2020 Colleges of Distinction FAFSA Deadlines
In order to qualify for federal student loans, you have to fill out the Free Application for Student Aid, also known as FAFSA, for every year that you want aid. A missed deadline can lose you thousands of dollars toward your tuition, so it’s important to stay on top of the multiple deadlines that come with this application. Thankfully, the FAFSA is now available on October 1st each year, three months earlier than it used to be. This gives you more time to start applying and get a better idea of the multiple deadlines you need to be aware of.
The earliest deadlines tend to be specific to the schools you’re applying to. Make a point to search for the FAFSA deadlines for every school you’re considering. If you complete the FAFSA after a school’s deadline, you may not be able to receive the aid you need; at best, the school will only be able to give you a fraction of the amount you could have received otherwise. There are over 7,000 college and university codes as well as over 400 foreign institutions for you to choose from. Otherwise, you can usually find the proper code to use on each school’s financial aid page.
If you miss a school’s FAFSA deadline, you can still call the financial aid office to see if it will give you a second chance to apply. The federal deadline, however, is less forgiving. If you miss the federal FAFSA deadline, then you are no longer eligible to submit your application for that year.
Below is a list of 2020 Colleges of Distinction FAFSA deadlines to help you when you submit your FAFSA. It is imperative that you know your college FAFSA deadlines so you have the opportunity to earn financial aid through federal loans.
State |
School |
Deadline |
|
Alabama
|
Samford University | February 15 |
| Spring Hill College | March 1 | |
| Stillman College | Check Website | |
| Tuskegee University | March 31 | |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | 45 days prior to the start of classes | |
| University of Montevallo | March 1 | |
|
Arizona
|
Ottawa University-Arizona | March 15 |
| Prescott College | June 30 | |
|
Arkansas
|
Arkansas Tech University | August 1 |
| Harding University | February 15 | |
| Hendrix College | March 1 | |
| John Brown University | February 14 | |
| Lyon College | March 1 | |
| University of Central Arkansas | June 20 | |
|
California |
Azusa Pacific University | June 30 |
| California Polytechnic State University | March 2 | |
| California State University, Fullerton | March 2 | |
| California State University, Long Beach | March 2 | |
| California State University, Stanislaus | March 2 | |
| Chapman University | March 2 | |
| Concordia University Irvine | March 2 | |
| Dominican University of California | March 2 | |
| Holy Names University | March 2 | |
| La Sierra University | March 2 | |
| Loyola Marymount University | February 1 | |
| Mills College | March 2 | |
| Notre Dame de Namur University | March 2 | |
| Saint Mary’s College of California | March 1 | |
| Santa Clara University | February 1 | |
| Simpson University | March 2 | |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | March 2 | |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | March 2 | |
| University of La Verne | March 2 | |
| University of Redlands | March 2 | |
| University of San Diego | March 2 | |
| Westmont College | March 2 | |
| Whittier College | March 2 | |
| Woodbury University | February 1 | |
|
Colorado
|
Colorado Christian University | Check Website |
| Colorado Mesa University | Check Website | |
| Colorado School of Mines | Freshman/transfer Students: March 1 | |
| Naropa University | March 1 | |
| University of Denver | Nov 15; Feb 1; March 15 | |
| University of Northern Colorado | March 1 | |
| Western Colorado University | March 1 | |
|
Connecticut
|
Albertus Magnus College | First-Year Student: March 15 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | March 1 | |
| Fairfield University | June 1 | |
| Goodwin College | Check Website | |
| Sacred Heart University | Early Decision: December 1 | |
| University of Hartford | February 1 | |
| University of New Haven | March 1 | |
|
Florida
|
Barry University | April 15 |
| Flagler College | April 1 | |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | January 1 | |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Check Website | |
| Florida Southern College | March 1 | |
| Lynn University | March 1 | |
| Rollins College | December 1 | |
| Southeastern University | June 30 | |
| University of Miami | April 15 | |
| University of South Florida | January 1 | |
| University of West Florida | January 1, March 1 | |
|
Georgia
|
Brenau University | One month before the beginning date of the semester |
| Georgia Gwinnett College | Fall: July 6 Spring: December 1 Summer: April 15 | |
| Georgia State University | April 1 | |
| Kennesaw State University | March 1 | |
| Mercer University | May 1 | |
| Oglethorpe University | November 15 | |
| Piedmont College | Check Website | |
| Reinhardt University | Check Website | |
| University of West Georgia | Fall: July 1 Spring: November 1 Summer: April 1 | |
|
Idaho
|
Northwest Nazarene University | January 15 |
| The College of Idaho | November 15 | |
|
Illinois
|
Aurora University | June 30 |
| Benedictine University | Check Website | |
| Concordia University Chicago | December 1 | |
| DePaul University | November 15 | |
| Elmhurst College | February 15 | |
| Greenville University | November 1 | |
| Illinois State University | November 15 | |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | November 1 | |
| Judson University | February 1 | |
| Lewis University | March 25 | |
| Loyola University Chicago | December 1 | |
| MacMurray College | February 1 | |
| McKendree University | November 1 | |
| North Park University | February 1 | |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Check Website | |
| Saint Xavier University | December 1 | |
| The University of Illinois at Chicago | Check Website | |
| Trinity Christian College | Check Website | |
| Trinity International University | February 15 | |
| University of St. Francis | November 1 | |
| Wheaton College | Early Action: November 10 | |
|
Indiana
|
Anderson University | August 1 |
| Ball State University | April 15 | |
| Bethel University Indiana | April 15 | |
| Butler University | December 1 | |
| DePauw University | Early Decision I: November 15 | |
| Franklin College | April 15 | |
| Indiana State University | April 15 | |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | March 1 | |
| Taylor University | February 15 | |
| University of Indianapolis | April 15 | |
|
Iowa
|
Briar Cliff University | July 1 |
| Buena Vista University | June 1 | |
| Drake University | March 1 | |
| Mount Mercy University | March 1 | |
| Northwestern College | Early Decision: December 1 | |
| St. Ambrose University | March 15 | |
| University of Dubuque | Check Website | |
|
Kansas
|
Baker University | March 15 |
| Emporia State University | April 1 | |
| Friends University | February 1 | |
| Kansas Wesleyan University | March 15 | |
| Newman University | December 1 | |
| Ottawa University | March 15 | |
| Southwestern College | June 30 | |
|
Kentucky
|
Centre College | Early Decision: November 15 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Check Website | |
| Lindsey Wilson College | October 31 | |
| Transylvania University | Check Website | |
| University of Louisville | June 30 | |
| University of the Cumberlands | March 1 | |
|
Louisiana
|
Centenary College of Louisiana | Fall: May 1 Spring December 1 Summer May 1 |
| Louisiana Tech University | January 5 | |
| Tulane University | Freshman Students: Feb 15 | |
| University of New Orleans | April 1 | |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | March 1 | |
|
Maine
|
Maine Maritime Academy | Check Website |
| Unity College | Check Website | |
| University of Maine | March 1 | |
|
Maryland
|
||
| Loyola University Maryland | January 15 | |
| Morgan State University | March 1 | |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | February 15 | |
| Salisbury University | March 1 | |
| St. Mary’s College of Maryland | February 28 | |
|
Massachusetts |
Assumption College | First Year Students: January 15 |
| Becker College | January 15 | |
| Curry College | March 1 | |
| Dean College | Check Website | |
| Emmanuel College | February 15 | |
| Lasell University | March 1 | |
| Nichols College | March 1 | |
| Northeastern University | Check Website | |
| Stonehill College | Early Action: November 1 | |
| Suffolk University | March 1 | |
| University of Massachusetts Lowell | March 1 | |
| Western New England University | March 1 | |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Early Action Round 1: November 1 | |
|
Michigan
|
Adrian College | March 1 |
| Albion College | March 1 | |
| Alma College | March 1 | |
| Central Michigan University | February 15 | |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Check Website | |
| Cornerstone University | March 1 | |
| Hillsdale College | Check Website | |
| Kalamazoo College | Early Decision: November 15 | |
| Michigan Technological University | March 1 | |
| Siena Heights University | Check Website | |
| Spring Arbor University | March 1 | |
| Western Michigan University | Check Website | |
|
Minnesota
|
Bethel University Minnesota | New Students: April 15 Returning Students: May 15 |
| University of Minnesota Duluth | Incoming Freshmen: February 15 | |
| University of Minnesota Morris | Incoming Freshmen: March 1 | |
| University of Minnesota Rochester | Check Website | |
| University of St. Thomas | Check Website | |
|
Mississippi
|
Belhaven University | Check Website |
| Millsaps College | Incoming Students: February 1 | |
|
Missouri
|
Evangel University | Spring: November 1 Fall: December 1 Summer: April 1 |
| Fontbonne University | March 1 | |
| Missouri State University | February 1 | |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | February 1 | |
| Saint Louis University | February 1 | |
| Stephens College | February 1 | |
| Truman State University | Check Website | |
|
Montana
|
Carroll College | December 1 |
| Rocky Mountain College | February 1 | |
|
Nebraska
|
College of Saint Mary | March 15 |
| Concordia University, Nebraska | Check Website | |
| Creighton University | January 15 | |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University | Check Website | |
| Wayne State College | April 1 | |
| Nevada | Sierra Nevada College | April 30 |
|
New Hampshire
|
Rivier University | March 1 |
| University Of New Hampshire | March 1 | |
|
New Jersey |
Caldwell University | April 15 |
| College of Saint Elizabeth | April 1 | |
| Georgian Court University | April 15 | |
| Kean University | April 15 | |
| Monmouth University | First come first serve basis | |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | March 1 | |
| Rider University | February 15 | |
| Rutgers University-Newark | April 15 | |
| Seton Hall University | March 1 | |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Early Decision I: December 1 | |
| The College of New Jersey | February 15 | |
|
New York |
Adelphi University | March 1 |
| Baruch College | Check Website | |
| Binghamton University | New students: January 1 Current Students: March 1 | |
| Canisius College | Freshmen and Transfer Students: February 15 | |
| College of Mount Saint Vincent | First-Year Students: March 15 | |
| Daemen College | November 15 | |
| Dominican College | Fall: March 15 Spring: November 15 | |
| Elmira College | July 1 | |
| Fordham University | Early action/decision: November 15 | |
| Hartwick College | March 1 | |
| Iona College | April 15 | |
| Keuka College | Check Website | |
| Le Moyne College | February 15 | |
| Long Island University | March 1 | |
| Manhattan College | February 15 | |
| Manhattanville College | March 1 | |
| Mount Saint Mary College | Freshmen Students: February 15 Regular: March 1 | |
| New York Institute of Technology | February 14 | |
| Niagara University | February 15 | |
| Purchase College | May 12 | |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) | Early Decision: November 1. Regular: February 1 | |
| Russell Sage College | Check Website | |
| SUNY Geneseo | Early Admission: Nov 15 | |
| SUNY New Paltz | March 1 | |
| SUNY Oswego | February 15 | |
| St. Francis College | Check Website | |
| St. John Fisher College | January 15 | |
| St. John’s University | First-Year Students: December 15 | |
| St. Joseph’s College, New York | Spring: January 1 Fall: February 25 | |
| St. Thomas Aquinas College | March 2 | |
| Stony Brook University | February 15 | |
| The King’s College | March 15 | |
| University at Albany, SUNY | January 1 | |
| Utica College | New applicants: March 1 | |
| Wells College | First-Year Students: December 1 | |
|
North Carolina |
Appalachian State University | March 1 |
| Belmont Abbey College | February 1 | |
| Elon University | January 10 | |
| Gardner-Webb University | Check Website | |
| High Point University | Check Website | |
| Lees-McRae College | March 31 | |
| Meredith College | Early Decision: November 15 | |
| North Carolina A&T State University | March 1 | |
| Pfeiffer University | Check Website | |
| University of Mount Olive | Check Website | |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | December 1 | |
| University of North Carolina—Wilmington | Fall: January 1 Spring: October 1 Summer: April 1 | |
| Wake Forest University | March 1 | |
| Western Carolina University | January 1 | |
| North Dakota | University of Mary | Incoming Freshmen Students: February 1 |
|
Ohio |
Bluffton University | May 1 |
| Defiance College | April 1 | |
| Denison University | Early Decision 1: November 15 | |
| Hiram College | March 15 | |
| Miami University—Oxford | Priority 1: December 1 Priority 2: February 1 | |
| Mount St. Joseph University | March 1 | |
| Ohio Dominican University | February 15 | |
| Otterbein University | February 15 | |
| University of Cincinnati | December 1 | |
| University of Dayton | February 1 | |
| University of Mount Union | Check Website | |
| Walsh University | Check Website | |
| Wilmington College | March 15 | |
| Wittenberg University | January 1 | |
| Xavier University | February 15 | |
|
Oklahoma
|
Oklahoma Baptist University | January 1 |
| Oklahoma Christian University | Check Website | |
| Oral Roberts University | March 1 | |
| University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma | Check Website | |
| University of Tulsa | January 15 | |
|
Oregon
|
Corban University | March 1 |
| Eastern Oregon University | Check Website | |
| George Fox University | Check Website | |
| Pacific University | February 15 | |
| Portland State University | February 1 | |
| University of Portland | Incoming Students: March 15 | |
| Warner Pacific University | Check Website | |
| Willamette University | February 1 | |
|
Pennsylvania |
Cabrini University | Check Website |
| California University of Pennsylvania | March 1 | |
| Carlow University | March 15 | |
| Chatham University | Check Website | |
| Chestnut Hill College | May 1 | |
| Drexel University | February 15 | |
| Duquesne University | May 31 | |
| Geneva College | March 15 | |
| La Roche University | May 1 | |
| Lafayette College | Spring Transfer: November 1 | |
| Lycoming College | May 1 | |
| Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | April 15 | |
| Mercyhurst University | March 15 | |
| Messiah College | Check Website | |
| Millersville University | March 15 | |
| Mount Aloysius College | April 1 | |
| Rosemont College | January 15 | |
| Saint Francis University | November 1 | |
| Saint Joseph’s University | Early Action: December 1 | |
| Seton Hill University | Check Website | |
| Shippensburg University | March 31 | |
| Slippery Rock University | May 1 | |
| Susquehanna University | November 1 | |
| University of Pittsburgh at Bradford | March 1 | |
| University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown | April 1 | |
| University of Scranton | April 15 | |
| Villanova University | Early Decision Applicants: November 1
Early Action Applicants: December 1 Regular Decision Applicants: January 15 |
|
| Waynesburg University | November 1 | |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | February 1 | |
| Wilson College | April 30 | |
| York College of Pennsylvania | November 1 | |
|
Rhode Island
|
Providence College | February 1 |
| University of Rhode Island | March 1 | |
|
South Carolina
|
Coastal Carolina University | March 15 |
| College of Charleston | March 1 | |
| Furman University | Early Decision: November 15 | |
| Presbyterian College | March 1 | |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | March 1 | |
| University of South Carolina Upstate | March 1 | |
|
Tennessee |
Belmont University | December 1 |
| Carson-Newman University | August 1 | |
| Christian Brothers University | Check Website | |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Check Website | |
| King University | Returning Students: April 1 | |
| Lipscomb University | Check Website | |
| Maryville College | April 1 | |
| Middle Tennessee State University | May 1 | |
| Rhodes College | Early Decision I: November 1 | |
|
Texas
|
Abilene Christian University | Check Website |
| Angelo State University | January 15 | |
| Dallas Baptist University | March 15 | |
| Hardin-Simmons University | Check Website | |
| Lubbock Christian University | Check Website | |
| McMurry University | Check Website | |
| Schreiner University | Check Website | |
| Southern Methodist University | Early Decision I/Early Action: November 1 | |
| St. Edward’s University | January 15 | |
| St. Mary’s University | March 1 | |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | January 15 | |
| Texas Christian University | Freshman Students: February 1 | |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | January 15 | |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | January 15 | |
| Trinity University | Check Website | |
| University of Houston | January 15 | |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | December 1 | |
| University of the Incarnate Word | January 15 | |
|
Utah
|
Southern Utah University | Check Website |
| Westminster College of Utah | Check Website | |
|
Vermont
|
Castleton University | April 30 |
| Champlain College | Early Decision: November 15 | |
| University of Vermont | February 1 | |
|
Virginia
|
Averett University | Check Website |
| College of William & Mary | Early Decision I: November 15 | |
| Emory & Henry College | March 1 | |
| Hampton University | Fall: March 1 Spring: November 1 | |
| James Madison University | March 1 | |
| Mary Baldwin University | March 1 | |
| Old Dominion University | January 1 | |
| Radford University | December 1 | |
| Roanoke College | New students: March 1 Returning Students: April 1 | |
| Shenandoah University | Check Website | |
| Sweet Briar College | May 2 | |
| The University of Virginia’s College at Wise | February 15 | |
| University of Mary Washington | Freshmen Students: February 1 Transfer: April 1 | |
| University of Richmond | May 15 | |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Check Website | |
|
Washington
|
Gonzaga University | February 1 |
| Northwest University | February 15 | |
| Seattle Pacific University | Early Action: November 1 Regular: March 1 | |
| Seattle University | February 1 | |
| Western Washington University | January 31 | |
| West Virginia | Davis & Elkins College | March 1 |
|
Wisconsin |
Cardinal Stritch University | December 1 |
| Concordia University Wisconsin | Check Website | |
| Marquette University | February 1 | |
| Northland College | Check Website | |
| St. Norbert College | January 1 | |
| University of Wisconsin–La Crosse | February 1 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh | January 1 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Parkside | March 15 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Stout | March 15 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Whitewater | January 1 | |
| Viterbo University | February 1 | |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | New Students: December 1 |
