Education
The 2027–28 FAFSA Is Open: Which California Cal Grant Deadline Matters?
The 2027–28 FAFSA became available on September 23, 2026. California families also need to distinguish the Cal Grant priority dates from federal and college-specific deadlines.
- The 2027–28 FAFSA is open. Federal Student Aid announced on September 23, 2026, that the form was available.
- California has separate Cal Grant priority dates. Official search results list March 2, 2027, for most students and September 2, 2027, for California community college students.
- There is no single deadline for every type of aid. Federal, state, and college deadlines can differ, so check with each school and program.
What does the FAFSA do?
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The 2027–28 form is for the school year that begins July 1, 2027, and ends June 30, 2028.
Federal Student Aid said the form became available on September 23, 2026. Filing allows agencies and schools to review a student’s information for aid that may be available. Filing does not guarantee a grant or other award.
Families may encounter several deadlines. The federal filing deadline is not necessarily the priority date for California aid or for the college a student plans to attend.
How is Cal Grant different from the FAFSA?
Cal Grant is a California student-aid program. The California Student Aid Commission, or CSAC, lists a March 2, 2027, priority date for most 2027–28 applicants. Students attending a California community college have a separate date: September 2, 2027.
The FAFSA is an application; Cal Grant is a program for which a student may be considered. The names do not mean the same thing.
The dates above appear in official CSAC search results, but the CSAC page returned an error when opened directly during review. Families should confirm current dates and requirements with CSAC before relying on them.
Three steps families can take
Step 1: Open Federal Student Aid’s FAFSA page and select the form for the 2027–28 school year.
Step 2: Check CSAC’s financial aid guidance, then confirm which date applies to the student’s college plans.
Step 3: Ask each college’s financial aid office about its priority date and any additional paperwork. Do not assume every school or program uses the same deadline.
Federal Student Aid says some forms are processed quickly, while others take more time. After processing, students can review their FAFSA Submission Summary to check the information sent to schools. That summary is not a separate award decision from a college or CSAC.
If your family is unsure which rules apply, ask the school or agency handling the application. This article does not recommend borrowing, choosing a college, or making an individual financial decision.
hỗ trợ tài chính → financial aid
FAFSA giúp trường xem xét hồ sơ hỗ trợ tài chính.
hạn ưu tiên → priority deadline
California có hạn ưu tiên Cal Grant riêng.
đơn xin hỗ trợ → aid application
FAFSA là đơn xin hỗ trợ tài chính liên bang.
cao đẳng cộng đồng → community college
Sinh viên cao đẳng cộng đồng có mốc Cal Grant riêng.
giấy tờ bổ sung → additional paperwork
Mỗi trường có thể yêu cầu giấy tờ bổ sung.
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This article is for general information only and is not financial, tax, investment, or legal advice. Please consult a licensed professional before making decisions.
Sources & verification notes · 5 sources
- 2027–28 FAFSA Form Now Available — Federal Student Aid — Official English-language announcement that the 2027–28 FAFSA became available on September 23, 2026. The page timed out during direct review on October 18, 2026. https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support
- 2027–28 FAFSA Is Here Earlier to Get Students and Families a Head Start — U.S. Department of Education — Official English-language information about the early FAFSA release; the direct page was difficult to load, so its information was checked through official search results. https://www.ed.gov/about/homeroom-blog/2027-28-fafsar-form-here-earlier-start-students-and-families
- FAFSA Application — Federal Student Aid — Federal Student Aid’s official English-language FAFSA portal. https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
- FAFSA Application Deadlines — Federal Student Aid — Official English-language guidance explaining that federal, state, and college deadlines can differ. https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines
- Apply for Financial Aid — California Student Aid Commission — CSAC’s official English-language financial aid page; CSAC search results list the dates used here. The page returned a 405 error on October 18, 2026. https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/apply-financial-aid