FAFSA 2027-28 · California
California FAFSA deadlineMar 2, 2027
March 2 is California's priority filing deadline — and for a new Cal Grant it is effectively a hard deadline. You must file the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and make sure your verified GPA reaches the California Student Aid Commission by March 2.
California: what to do, step by step
- 1
Create StudentAid.gov accounts — student and parent
The student and one parent each need their own account to sign the FAFSA. Identity verification can take a few days, so do this first. (CADAA applicants create an account in the Dream Act application instead.)
- 2
File the FAFSA — or the CADAA — by March 2, 2027
Use the FAFSA if you are eligible for federal aid. Undocumented and mixed-status students eligible under the California Dream Act file the CADAA instead. Either one starts your Cal Grant application.
Start the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov →Start the CADAA (California Dream Act) →
- 3
Make sure your verified GPA reaches CSAC by March 2
A Cal Grant needs two parts: the application above and a verified GPA. Many schools send it electronically — confirm yours did, or upload it yourself. Filing the FAFSA without the GPA is the most common California mistake.
- 4
Check college dates, then set a filing reminder
Your real deadline is the earliest of: California's March 2 Cal Grant date, or any earlier date a college on your list sets for its own aid. Set a reminder for that date now — email or calendar — so you get nudged before it hits. (Community-college Cal Grant has a later second date — see below.)
.ics includes state + federal deadlines with 30 / 14 / 7-day reminders.
- 5
When a reminder arrives: finish filing
That email or calendar alert means the deadline is close. Finish your FAFSA or CADAA, confirm your GPA reached CSAC, and check each college on your list. Then you're done until aid offers arrive.
Key dates
| October 1, 2026Thursday | FAFSA opened | You can file now — earlier is better for limited funds. |
|---|---|---|
| March 2, 2027Tuesday | California priority deadline (Cal Grant) | The date this page exists for. State money is limited. |
| September 2, 2027Thursday | California Community College Cal Grant deadline | Additional state date — confirm it applies to your path. |
| June 30, 2028Friday | Federal FAFSA deadline | Federal aid only. Waiting for this date usually means missing state aid. |
| Date varies by school | College deadlines | Can be earlier than the state date. Check every college on your list. |
What California applicants need to know
- A Cal Grant application is two parts: (1) FAFSA or CADAA, and (2) a verified Cal Grant GPA. Many schools submit the GPA electronically — confirm yours did, or upload it through WebGrants for Students by March 2.
- Attending a California Community College? You get a second Cal Grant deadline on September 2, 2027.
- Use the CADAA instead of the FAFSA if you are an undocumented or mixed-status student eligible under the California Dream Act.
Watch out
The most common California mistake is filing the FAFSA on time but never confirming the GPA verification arrived. File both, then check WebGrants for Students.
Sources — checked 2026-10-21
- California Student Aid Commission — Important dates and deadlines
- California Student Aid Commission — Cal Grant GPA Verification Form 2027-28
- Federal Student Aid — FAFSA deadlines (state list)
Deadlines can change (some states have extended dates in past years). If an official source disagrees with this page, the official source wins — and please tell us via our data page. Cite this page: Source: The Aid Window, aidwindow.com/california (checked 2026-10-21).
Applying in another state too? See all verified deadlines by state or the FAFSA 101 guide.