Does FAFSA need to be completed before starting college?

I'm a bit confused about the FAFSA timing. If someone starts college classes before their FAFSA is processed, does that cause any issues? Or can you begin and sort out the financial aid part later? Just trying to understand the order of operations here.

While you technically can start college classes before your FAFSA has been processed, I would highly advise against it. If you're relying on federal aid to pay for your tuition and related costs, you'll want to ensure that your eligibility is confirmed before classes begin. That way, you're not stuck in a position of potentially having to drop out or seek other urgent funding options should your aid application be denied or yield less aid than you anticipated.

The FAFSA becomes available each year on October 1st and for the 2024-2025 academic year, federal aid is available until June 30, 2025. However, many colleges have their own priority deadline for aid applications, and the earlier you apply, the more likely you are to receive grants and work-study funds which don't have to be repaid. States also have their own deadlines, many of which are "first-come, first-served."

So in summary, while you technically could start classes before your FAFSA is processed, it's generally better to apply as early as possible and well in advance of starting classes. If for some reason, you are starting classes before receiving your aid package, reach out to your school's financial aid office to discuss your situation. They may be able to guide you on temporary fixes until your funding comes through.