For the 2021-2022 school year, the FAFSA application cycle that opened on Oct. 1 ends on June 30. Submitting a FAFSA early has its benefits, while waiting to submit can have long-lasting consequences.

“State aid – and many states rely on FAFSA completion – is a lot of times first come, first served, even for eligible students,” said Julie Peller, executive director of Higher Learning Advocates.

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