Complete the FAFSA
About this Step
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is the most important step to pay for college.
Students who verify they completed the FAFSA during their senior year will earn an entry into monthly BigFuture scholarship drawings for $500 and $40,000. Students have until the end of February of their senior year to verify that they completed this step. Keep in mind that states and colleges have separate deadlines for FAFSA completion.
How to Qualify
- Take action to unlock financial aid:
- Submit the FAFSA. Watch for your FAFSA Submission Summary by email or mail.
- Alternatively, submit your state’s financial aid form for your state. (Check here or talk to your counselor to see if your state has a state aid form you can submit.)
- Log in to BigFuture. Confirm your qualification for drawing on the dashboard.
- Verify that you completed the FAFSA, submitted a state aid form, or are legally ineligible to submit both the FAFSA and a state aid form.
- After verifying that any of these apply to you, you’ll be automatically entered into monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 unless you opt out of participation.
Dates and Deadlines
Scholarships for $500 and $40,000 are awarded monthly until February of your senior year. Completing any step enters you in the drawings on the first day of every month. Drawings occur on the first day of every month.
Class of 2025 Deadline to Complete this Step: Friday, February 28, 2025
Class of 2026 Deadline to Complete this Step: Saturday, February 28, 2026
Class of 2027 Deadline to Complete this Step: Monday, November 30, 2026
Increase Your Chances
Whenever students whose families earn less than $60,000 a year complete the FAFSA, they’ll earn an extra entry in monthly drawings and have double the chances at a scholarship. Half of all awards are reserved for students who meet the income criteria.