The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open for the upcoming school year. The FAFSA is the first key step to getting financial aid for college. Here’s what you need to know about completing it and what deadlines you’ll need to meet for financial aid at higher education institutions.
The FAFSA is essential for financial assistance even though it can be a daunting task for some high school and college students. Completing the form gives students access to federal and state financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs like the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship.
The FAFSA for the 2026-2027 school year opened Oct. 1. It’s best to fill out the form as soon as possible, as some forms of assistance are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. It takes an estimated 30 minutes to complete.
More than $70 million in Pell Grants — reserved for the most financially needy students — went unawarded to Oklahomans in 2024, according to the National College Access Network, simply because a majority of high school seniors didn’t complete the FAFSA.
Now, Oklahoma seniors must submit the FAFSA to graduate, a change that helped raise participation to 51.5% of Oklahoma graduates in 2025. That’s nearly 8,000 more seniors with access to financial aid.
How to fill out the FAFSA
Once you’ve got your ID, you’ll need to collect the necessary documents and paperwork. These include:
- Your Social Security number or alien registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen
- The Social Security number, date of birth, current address and email address of your parents if you’re a dependent
- Your 2024 federal income tax returns, W-2s and all other income records, including any child support received
- The current total of all financial accounts, including cash, savings and checking
- Investment records and untaxed income records, if applicable
- Net worth of all businesses, if applicable
Then, apply online at fafsa.gov.
You’ll have to list the code for at least one school to apply — either one you’re applying to or the school you’re currently attending — but these can be changed at any time after submitting the form. School codes for Tulsa-area colleges are listed below.
Sign and submit the form, then check your email often for the submission summary and financial aid offer. Also keep an eye out for messages from the colleges and universities listed on your form — they might contact you for additional information. You can check the status through your StudentAid.gov account.
The Oklahoma College Assistance Program, a division of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, runs several websites to help you understand financial aid. If you need more guidance on completing the FAFSA, visit StartWithFAFSA.org. If you need guidance on paying for postsecondary education, visit UCanGo2.org.
FAFSA guidelines for Tulsa-are colleges
The University of Oklahoma-Tulsa will accept and process FAFSAs throughout the aid year, but recommends students follow this schedule for priority processing. OU’s Federal School Code is 003184.
- Dec. 1: Priority FAFSA deadline for the 2026-2027 school year
- March 1: Crimson Commitment student FAFSA deadline for the 2026-2027 school year
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa recommends filling out the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens Oct. 1 and you’ve been admitted. The university receives “limited funding” for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, federal work-study and state grants, so the earliest applicants are prioritized for funds. OSU’s school code is 003170.
The University of Tulsa recommends filling out the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens Oct. 1 and you’ve been admitted. The university receives “limited funding” for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, federal work-study and state grants, so the earliest applicants are prioritized for funds. TU’s school code is 003185.
Tulsa Community College recommends filling out the FAFSA no later than Feb. 1 for the best aid opportunities. TCC’s school code is 009763.
Langston University-Tulsa recommends filling out the FAFSA by Dec. 1. In November, financial aid staff will be available to assist students completing their application and will host information sessions on financial aid. Langston’s school code is 003157.
Oral Roberts University recommends filling out the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens Oct. 1. ORU’s school code is 003985.
Northeastern State University recommends filling out the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens Oct. 1. NSU’s school code is 003161.
The Tulsa-based Community Care College school code is 033674.
The Phillips Theological Seminary recommends filling out the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens Oct. 1, provided you plan to enroll in at least six credit hours. Phillips’ school code is 017239.
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