Applying for Financial Aid - Filing the FAFSA
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How Early Can I Apply for Financial Aid?
- Each year you can file the FAFSA and New York State TAP Application for the following academic year as of October 1. For example, you can file a 2023-24 financial aid application as of October 1, 2022.
What Year Income or Tax Information Is Required for the Applications?
- The FAFSA and New York State TAP application use income information from two years prior to the first year indicated in the academic year.
For example, the 2023-24 FAFSA and New York State TAP applications use 2021 income information. This means you or your parents will likely have the tax return needed for these applications already completed, saving you time and allowing you to file early.
NOTE: You and your parents (if dependent) do not need to have had an income or be tax filers in the year required to be reported n the application to be able to apply for financial aid.
What Are the Benefits of Filing the FAFSA Early?
- Less stress: You can begin filing your FAFSA and New York State Payment application up to six months before the priority deadline and up to 10 months before the first payment deadlines for the following academic year.
- Less waiting: You do not need to wait for your or your parents' income or tax information to be completed in order to file, since the income used to determine your eligibility is already from two years prior. You also do not need to use estimated income on the FAFSA or New York State Payment application, making your initial application more accurate.
- More accurate information on your application: Many students will be able to electronically import income tax return information directly from the IRS into their FAFSA application using the IRS Data Retrieval tool for FAFSA on the Web. This is the most efficient and accurate way of providing income tax information on the FAFSA and is recommended by the U.S. Department of Education.
Will I See My Financial Aid Earlier Since I Can File Earlier?
Not necessarily. Pell Grant amounts are not determined by the U.S. Congress until the new calendar year, and TAP award amounts are subject to the passing of the annual New York State fiscal budget by the New York State legislature, which also does not occur until the new calendar year.
Typically, financial aid award information for the new financial aid year generally becomes available in CUNYfirst in February/March. The purpose of filing early is to provide students and/or their families more time to apply in a more convenient and less pressured manner.
Why Should I File Early?
The earlier you file the less pressure you and your family will feel during the application process. Also, the application will be made available in CUNYfirst at the earliest possible time, which means less waiting in the long run. The Brooklyn College priority filing deadline is March 1 of each calendar year, so filing earlier means getting a head start on financing your education for the next academic year.
What if My Income or My Family's Income Has Changed?
A lot can change in two years. If you or your family have experienced significant changes in income from the calendar year that was required to be reported on your FAFSA then you may be eligible for an Income Adjustment Appeal. Click here to learn more about this process.
What if I Need More Help?
In an effort to make certain that all aid filers better understand the FAFSA filing process, the U.S Department of Education developed a FAFSA Filing Information webpage providing step by step guidance. Brooklyn College also offers FAFSA filing assistance through a virtual financial aid filing workshop.
