Submit 2027-28 FAFSA by K-State’s priority date of Dec. 1 for best chance of financial aid

The 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is now open, giving students the opportunity to meet K-State’s priority date of Dec. 1.

All students, with the exception of international students, are encouraged by K-State’s Office of Student Financial Assistance, or OSFA, to submit the FAFSA. The application can be completed at any time, but applying by the priority date allows OSFA to review students’ eligibility for the widest array of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, work study and loans from federal, state and university programs.

"In addition to federal financial aid, hundreds of thousands of dollars in institutional and state scholarships and grants are awarded each year based on information that K-State retrieves from the FAFSA," said Robert Gamez, director of OSFA.

Before submitting the FAFSA, students and, if applicable, parents or spouses will need to create an account if they haven’t already. This account is how they will manage all federal student aid tasks, from completing the FAFSA to managing loans. Be sure to provide K-State’s Federal School Code, 001928, so that the federal processor can forward FAFSA information to OSFA.

Free K-State resources are available to support students and families with the FAFSA:

• Wildcat One Stop, Room 119 of Anderson Hall, is a go-to spot for student aid questions and assistance.
• The Office of Student Financial Assistance’s FAFSA site provides answers to frequently asked questions.
• Students can connect with their financial aid advisor if they encounter unusual circumstances or roadblocks. Appointments are available in person, virtually or by phone.
• Financial aid field guides on K-State’s YouTube channels break down topics such as FAFSA myths and differences among types of aid.

"I encourage everyone to fill out the FAFSA, regardless of their income," said Gamez. "Many students are surprised to find that they qualify for some form of financial aid."

"Students should apply for financial aid because you never know unless you try," said Aurora Wollard, a K-State animal science student. "There are always opportunities to get help."

— Submitted by Susan Heim