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The Aid Window

FAFSA 2027-28 · West Virginia

West Virginia FAFSA deadlineMar 1, 2027

March 1 is the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship deadline — you need both the FAFSA and the PROMISE application (via WVSAM on CFWV) by that date. Higher Education Grant and Invests priority consideration follow on April 15.

View key dates

West Virginia: 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 by March 1, 2027

    PROMISE requires a processed 2027–28 FAFSA by March 1. The same FAFSA later feeds Higher Education Grant and Invests consideration (April 15).

    Start the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov →

  3. 3

    Submit the PROMISE application in WVSAM

    Create a West Virginia Student Aid Management account on CFWV, then submit the PROMISE application by March 1. The FAFSA alone is not enough for PROMISE.

    Apply for PROMISE — CFWV →PROMISE requirements — CFWV →

  4. 4

    Check college dates, then set a filing reminder

    Your real deadline is the earliest of: PROMISE's March 1 date, April 15 for HE Grant / Invests priority, or any earlier college date. 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 the FAFSA and any CFWV applications, then confirm each college on your list. Then you're done until aid offers arrive.

    Open the FAFSA →PROMISE apply now — CFWV →

Key dates

October 1, 2026ThursdayFAFSA opened
March 1, 2027MondayWest Virginia PROMISE Scholarship deadline
April 15, 2027ThursdayWV Higher Education Grant / Invests priority
June 30, 2028FridayFederal FAFSA deadline
Date varies by schoolCollege deadlines

What West Virginia applicants need to know

  • PROMISE is two parts: (1) 2027–28 FAFSA and (2) PROMISE application in WVSAM — both by March 1, 2027.
  • For the WV Higher Education Grant, file the FAFSA by April 15. WV Invests also uses April 15 as its priority date and needs its own application.
  • Apply for PROMISE even if grades or test scores are still catching up — scores can link later if you met the March 1 filing deadline.

Watch out

PROMISE fails most often when families file the FAFSA but never submit the separate CFWV/WVSAM application by March 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/west-virginia (checked 2026-10-25).

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