PALM BAY, Fla., Oct. 27, 2026 —
If someone in your house is a high school senior, fall is form season. Two applications decide a lot of the money available for college: the federal FAFSA and Florida's own Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA), which is how seniors apply for Bright Futures.
Form 1: The FAFSA (federal aid)
The U.S. Department of Education announced on Sept. 23, 2026 that the 2027-28 FAFSA is online, which it called the earliest launch in the program's history for the second year in a row. The department says families can complete the form in as little as 15 minutes.
- Which year to pick: the 2027-28 form is for attending school between July 1, 2027, and June 30, 2028.
- It's free: the official form is labeled a free application, and you can apply free online at fafsa.gov.
- Parents and contributors: students can invite a parent or other contributor by text message or email to complete their part of the form.
- Deadlines: federal aid requires the form by 11:59 p.m. Central time on June 30, 2028. Each college may have its own, earlier deadline, so check with the schools on your list.
Form 2: The Florida Financial Aid Application (state aid)
Florida's Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) says the FFAA process begins Oct. 1 and has three steps: create a student account, complete the FFAA, then review and submit it. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors must wait until Oct. 1 of their senior year.
The FFAA covers five state programs, with these deadlines (OSFA FFAA guide):
- Florida Bright Futures Scholarship: Aug. 31
- Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans: April 1
- Rosewood Family Scholarship: April 1
- Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship: April 1
- Randolph Bracy Ocoee Scholarship Program: April 1
For 2027 high school graduates, the Bright Futures handbook says students must submit the FFAA between Oct. 1, 2026, and Aug. 31, 2027, and that a student who misses the deadline cannot receive the scholarship. The state strongly encourages students to apply as soon as possible, even if eligibility requirements haven't been met yet.
A family checklist
- Fill out the 2027-28 FAFSA at fafsa.gov, and invite any parent or contributor who has to add information.
- Create a student account and submit the FFAA through OSFA.
- Put April 1 and Aug. 31 (the state deadlines above) on the family calendar.
- Ask each college on your list about its own aid deadlines.
Now that you have the up-to-date facts, decide what it means for you and your family.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Sept. 23, 2026 press release; Federal Student Aid, 2027-28 FAFSA form now available, 2027-28 FAFSA form (PDF) and FAFSA deadlines; Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance, 2027-28 FFAA Guide and Bright Futures Student Handbook, Ch. 1. Checked Oct. 27, 2026.
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