Students can begin filling out 2017-18 FAFSA application on Saturday

Application start date pushed up three months

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 30, 2016) — Beginning Saturday students can go online and begin filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

In the past students had to wait until the beginning of the new year, but in 2015 President Obama announced changes to FAFSA.

Changes are:

• Students will be able to file a 2017–18 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, 2017. The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as Oct. 1 every year.
• Students will use earlier income information. Beginning with the 2017–18 FAFSA, students will be required to report income information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017–18 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2015 income information, rather than their 2016 income information.