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The Aid Window

FAFSA 2027-28 · Ohio

Ohio FAFSA deadlineOct 1, 2027

Ohio's statewide FAFSA deadline for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) is October 1, 2027. There is no separate OCOG application — ODHE uses your FAFSA — but most Ohio colleges set much earlier institutional priority dates, so treat October 1 as a state floor, not your personal target.

View key dates

Ohio: 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 well before October 1, 2027

    October 1 is Ohio's OCOG state deadline (midnight Central time on the federal list). File earlier whenever a college on your list publishes an earlier priority date.

    Start the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov →

  3. 3

    Confirm OCOG details with ODHE / your school

    There is no separate OCOG form. After you file, your college financial aid office and ODHE guidance determine whether you meet OCOG rules.

    ODHE — OCOG guidance memo FA 27-001 →ODHE — OCOG overview (PDF) →

  4. 4

    Check college dates, then set a filing reminder

    Your real deadline is the earliest of: Ohio's October 1 OCOG date, or any earlier date a college on your list sets. Set a reminder for that date now — email or calendar — so you get nudged before it hits.

    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 the deadline is close. 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 →ODHE OCOG guidance memo →

Key dates

October 1, 2026ThursdayFAFSA opened
October 1, 2027FridayOhio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) FAFSA deadline
June 30, 2028FridayFederal FAFSA deadline
Date varies by schoolCollege deadlines

What Ohio applicants need to know

  • OCOG considers the FAFSA filed by October 1 of the aid year. Late verification can still be paid if the original FAFSA met that date and funding remains.
  • College priority dates often fall months earlier (winter/spring). Use the earliest college date on your list as your real aim date.
  • OCOG eligibility also depends on SAI, income, enrollment, and institutional rules — filing on time is necessary but not sufficient.

Watch out

October 1 is late on the national calendar — Ohio colleges usually want the FAFSA much earlier. Missing a January–March college priority date can cost institutional aid even if you still meet OCOG's October 1.

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/ohio (checked 2026-10-25).

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