2026-27 FAFSA Information

• The deadline to submit the 2026-27 FAFSA is June 30, 2027. Keep in mind, however, that filing early gives you the best chance of getting more financial aid.
• Key changes will open up Pell Grant award eligibility to more students because it’s now linked to family size and the federal guidelines and AGI. 
• The new form introduced a new term – “contributor.” A contributor is anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form. They may include the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adopted parent, or the parent’s spouse. Each contributor will need to have their StudentAid.govaccount.
• The student seeking aid (and all contributors) are required to provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA form via direct data exchange. Very important:  The student will not be eligible for federal student aid if this consent is not given.
• They added demographic questions about the student's gender, race, and ethnicity for research purposes. Your responses do not affect your federal student aid eligibility. 

If you are completing the FAFSA for the first time, there are many details you need to be aware of before, during, and after you submit the application. Monroe's Financial Aid department has created a FAFSA & TAP guide so you can know every step in the process. You can also check out this great instructional 2026-2027 FAFSA & TAP Guide.