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The Aid Window

FAFSA 2027-28 · Delaware

Delaware FAFSA deadlineMay 15, 2027

Federal Student Aid lists May 15, 2027 (midnight Central) for Delaware. Delaware Higher Education Office scholarship applications for several 2027–28 programs list May 17, 2027 (4:30 p.m.). We show both — confirm which date applies to your path, and aim for the earlier one when unsure.

View key dates

Delaware: what to do, step by step

  1. 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.

    Create accounts at StudentAid.gov →

  2. 2

    File the FAFSA — aim for May 15, 2027 (FSA), and confirm DHEO May 17 if you use that portal

    FSA says submit by May 15, 2027, midnight Central. If you are applying through Delaware Higher Education Office scholarships that list May 17, complete that portal too — the dates disagree, so treat both as real.

    Start the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov →

  3. 3

    Apply in the Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal when your scholarship requires it

    Career-Based and several other DHEO programs use the state portal and list a May 17, 2027 close. Merit awards may close in February. Match the program page to your application.

    DHEO Scholarships — Delaware Department of Education →

  4. 4

    Check college dates, then set a filing reminder

    Your real deadline is the earliest of: FSA’s May 15, any DHEO program date (including May 17 or earlier merit closes), or a college date. Set a reminder for that earliest date — we will not hide the FSA/DHEO conflict.

    Add to Google Calendar Download .ics

    .ics includes state + federal deadlines with 30 / 14 / 7-day reminders.

  5. 5

    When a reminder arrives: finish filing

    That email or calendar alert means it is time to act. Finish (or fix) your FAFSA, submit it, and confirm each college on your list got it. Then you're done until aid offers arrive.

    Open the FAFSA →DHEO Scholarships →

Key dates

October 1, 2026ThursdayFAFSA opened
May 15, 2027SaturdayFSA lists May 15 — DHEO scholarship apps list May 17 (confirm both)
May 17, 2027MondayDHEO scholarship applications (May 17 — differs from FSA May 15)
June 30, 2028FridayFederal FAFSA deadline
Date varies by schoolCollege deadlines

What Delaware applicants need to know

  • FSA May 15 vs DHEO May 17: this page does not pick a winner. Use May 15 if you are chasing the FSA-listed state filing date; use May 17 (and the DHEO portal) for Career-Based and other DHEO scholarship apps that publish that close date.
  • Some DHEO merit scholarships (e.g. Barnes, Holloway, Hebner) close earlier — February 26, 2027 on the DHEO scholarships page.
  • College deadlines can still be earlier than either May date.

Watch out

FSA lists May 15; Delaware lists May 17 for several DHEO scholarship apps. Confirm both — do not assume one page cancelled the other.

Sources — checked 2026-10-25

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/delaware (checked 2026-10-25).

Applying in another state too? See all verified deadlines by state or the FAFSA 101 guide.