The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the key that unlocks federal student aid – including grants and student loans. It’s also the primary tool that colleges and universities use to award need-based scholarships.
The FAFSA is typically filled out by families in the fall of their senior year of high school, and then repeated each year of college. In fact, the FAFSA just opened for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Given the importance of filling out the FAFSA, almost one-quarter of states have adopted rules requiring their graduating seniors to fill out the FAFSA.
Here are the states that require it, along with some nuances about how these rules are being implemented.
Which States Require The FAFSA To Be Completed?
These states require the FAFSA to be completed. Note that some states may have various requirements or opt-out provisions.
Alabama – Graduating seniors must submit the FAFSA or provide a non-participation waiver.
California – California doesn’t make this a graduation requirement with any penalties (though it is “required”). It does require that educational agencies confirm that all their seniors completed the FAFSA, the California Dream Act Application, or a waiver.
Connecticut – Filing the FAFSA will become a high school graduation requirement starting the 2026-2027 school year.
Illinois – Students must file the FAFSA or provide a waiver in order to graduate high school.
Indiana – High school seniors must file the FAFSA by April 15 of the school year in order to graduate high school, or they can submit a signed waiver to opt out.
Kansas – Kansas passed legislation to require the FAFSA starting in the 2027-2028 academic year, but recent legislation may repeal this before it takes effect.
Maryland – Maryland does not “require” families complete the FAFSA, but does require schools to encourage and assist as many high school seniors as possible complete the FAFSA.
Nebraska – Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, all seniors by complete the FAFSA or provide a waiver.
New Jersey – Starting in 2024-2025, all high school seniors will be required to complete the FAFSA or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application in order to receive their high school diploma.
New York – Staring with the 2024-2025 school year, all high school seniors must complete the FAFSA or the New York State Dream Act Applcation, or sign a waiver to opt out.
Oklahoma – Starting with the 2025-2025 academic year, all high school seniors must complete the FAFSA or provide a signed waiver to opted out.
Texas – All 12th grade students must complete the FAFSA or the Texas Application for State Financial Aid, or provide a signed opt out form.
Some States Have Changed Their Requirements
Both Louisiana and New Hampshire had previously required the the FAFSA to be completed, but repealed it for the 2024-25 school year.
Louisiana was the first state to require high school seniors complete the FAFSA back in 2018. The result of the requirement was a huge increase in FAFSA completions. Even in 2024, Lousiana has the second-highest completion rate of any state.
However, critics argued that it was both an administrative burden, and it was pushing students to go to a 4-year college at added expense in lieu of pursing other courses of education, such as trades or vocational school.
Colorado is unique as well, in that they don’t have a FAFSA completion requirement, but they do have a grant program to encourage educational organizations to complete the FAFSA.
Families Should Still Complete The FAFSA
Regardless of any state requirements, families should still complete the FAFSA as it is key to receiving financial aid.
The FAFSA can unlock both Federal and state educational grants, provide access to the federal student loan program, and even some private scholarships require the FAFSA to be completed.
For most families, completing the FAFSA should only take about 20 or 30 minutes. It’s an easy opportunity to receive assistance to pay for college.
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