Students must file a FAFSA by Feb. 1 to meet Access Missouri priority deadline

The priority deadline for the Access Missouri Grant Program – the state’s largest student financial aid program – is quickly approaching. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, by Feb. 1 to be guaranteed a grant award if they meet all eligibility requirements.

Students completing the FAFSA after Feb. 1 but before the April 1 final deadline could still receive a grant if funding is available. However, early submission of the FAFSA is encouraged because funds are limited.

“Thousands of students and their families use the Access Missouri Grant to help pay for college every year,” said Zora Mulligan, Missouri Commissioner of Higher Education. “Filing a FAFSA is a critical step toward making college more affordable.”

More than 42,000 Missouri students received funding through the program during the 2017-18 academic year. The average grant award was $1,709 for students attending a public four-year college or university.

The first step to file a FAFSA is to obtain an FSA ID – a username and password needed to sign and submit the FAFSA electronically. More information about obtaining an FSA ID can be found at fsaid.ed.gov. Students can file the FAFSA online at https://fafsa.ed.gov/ or by downloading the new myStudentAid app.

For more information about the Access Missouri Grant, including all eligibility requirements, visit dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/accessmo.php.