2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Information
The 2025-2026 FAFSA is available. For maximum financial aid consideration, you must have filed your FAFSA by the February 1, 2025 Rutgers priority filing deadline*. The Rutgers Federal School Code is 002629.
*This date does not apply to most Rutgers Health students.
| Late November | 2025-2026 FAFSA is available. |
| February 1, 2025 | Rutgers priority filing deadline for incoming, continuing, and transfer students. Students should submit the FAFSA by February 1 for maximum financial aid consideration. Note: This date does not apply for most Rutgers Health students. |
| Ongoing | Students who submit their FAFSA can begin making corrections, if necessary, after it has been processed by the federal government. Check the status of your FAFSA to determine if it has been processed. |
| January – February | Rutgers will perform system updates, load data, and conduct testing in preparation to begin financial aid packaging. |
| Late February/Early March | Financial aid packaging is expected to begin for incoming undergraduate and graduate students. Students will be notified via email when their package is available. Packaging and subsequent notifications will continue daily. |
| May 1, 2025 | Deadline for admitted students to accept our offer of admission. Students can secure a seat for the fall 2025 semester by accepting our offer through the Rutgers Application Portal. |
| Mid-Late June | Financial aid packaging is expected to begin for continuing undergraduate and graduate students. Students will be notified via email when their package is available. Packaging and subsequent notifications will continue daily. |
Rutgers Net Price Calculator
The Rutgers net price calculator (NPC) is designed to give undergraduate students a personalized early estimate of your cost to attend Rutgers University. The NPC is simple to use, and it takes less than 5 minutes to get your estimated package. It’s mobile friendly too!
If you need assistance, our NPC video will walk you through the steps to get your estimate.
Please note: The NPC is not an aid application and you will not receive any aid without submitting the FAFSA and meeting the eligibility criteria. The information you receive from using the NPC is an estimate only and subject to change based on data from your FAFSA.
Federal Student Aid Estimator
Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to get an early estimate of what your federal student aid could be after you complete the new form.
Please note: The estimator is not an aid application and you will not receive any aid without submitting the FAFSA and meeting the eligibility criteria. The information you receive from using the estimator is an estimate only and subject to change based on data from your FAFSA.
Information for NJ Dreamers
If you are an NJ Dreamer, you may be eligible for state financial aid through the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application (NJAFAA).
Complete the NJAFAA if you live in New Jersey, are not eligible to complete the FAFSA, and meet all of the following criteria:
- Attended a New Jersey high school for at least 3 years.
- Graduated from a New Jersey high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in New Jersey.
- Are able to file an affidavit stating that you have filed an application to legalize your immigration status or will file an application as soon as your are eligible to do so.
The 2025-2026 NJAFAA is available for students to complete. Students can access the application by logging into their NJFAMS account, and selecting “Apply Online for New Jersey Financial Aid (NJ Dreamer Students Only)”.
Click here for NJAFAA deadlines for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Resources for Parents
Check FAFSA deadlines. State, school, and federal government FAFSA deadlines differ. Keep track of these deadlines and encourage your child to complete their FAFSA as early as possible.
Use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizard. This interactive tool will help you determine if you and/or another parent will be required to provide information on your child’s FAFSA.
Get pro tips for the FAFSA. Learn key information that will help you prepare for and complete the FAFSA, and avoid issues.
Visit the FAFSA Help Center to find answers to frequently asked questions, as well as help articles, resources (videos, infographics, webinars), and information on ways you can get support.
FAQ
What is the deadline to submit my FAFSA?
The Rutgers priority filing deadline is February 1, 2025. File by this date for maximum financial aid consideration.
NJ residents should also review state deadlines.
What if a contributor does not have a social security number (SSN)?
All contributors without an SSN, including those with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), must manually enter their financial information. All impacted users are encouraged to enter an ITIN on the FAFSA form if they have one.
Learn more about verifying identity when there is no SSN.
I got an error message when entering the school code on the fafsa. What should i do?
Verify the school code:
Go back to the school search function on the FAFSA website.
Carefully enter the school’s name and state.
Try a different browser or device:
Clearing the browser cache or using a different device can sometimes resolve technical issues.
Contact the Federal Student Aid Help Center:
If you’ve checked the code and are still facing issues, call 1-800-433-3243 or visit the Federal Student Aid Help Center website.
Who can I contact for assistance with completing the FAFSA?
Students experiencing difficulties with completing the FAFSA can go to the Student Aid “FASFA Help” webpage or call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). If you need assistance in another language, visit https://StudentAid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/request-interpreter.
How can I check the status of my FAFSA?
How do I know if Rutgers received my FAFSA data?
We have not yet begun loading data in our system, but as long as you entered the Rutgers School Code (002629) on your FAFSA, we will receive your data.
I am graduating in spring 2025. Do I need to file the 2025-2026 FAFSA?
Only students who plan to attend college during the 2025-2026 academic year need to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA.
I missed the Rutgers priority filing deadline. Am I still eligible for financial aid for the 2025-2026 academic year?
If you did not file your FAFSA by the February 1, 2025, Rutgers priority deadline, you will not be eligible for institutional aid. However you may still be eligible for aid from the state of NJ if you file by the state deadline, and/or federal loans.
Visit the Federal Student Aid FAFSA Help page for more answers to common FAFSA questions.
This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Please check back frequently.