To receive priority consideration for financial aid from each of these institutions, you must file by the date listed if you plan to enroll the following fall. Note that deadlines vary quite a bit, so we recommend filing the  FAFSA as early as possible.

College Priority Deadlines for Financial Aid Consideration
Academic Year 2026-27
College NamePriority Deadline
Allen CollegeMarch 15
Briar Cliff UniversityJuly 1
Buena Vista UniversityMay 1
Central CollegeJan. 15
Clarke College 
Coe CollegeMarch 1
Cornell CollegeMarch 1
Des Moines Area Community CollegeJuly 1
Divine Word CollegeAug. 1
Dordt CollegeFeb. 1
Drake UniversityMarch 1
Eastern Iowa Community CollegeMarch 1
Emmaus Bible College 
Faith Baptist Bible CollegeJuly 1
Graceland UniversityFeb. 1
Grand View CollegeMarch 1
Grinnell CollegeJan. 15
Hawkeye Community CollegeJuly 1
Indian Hills Community CollegeJuly 1
Iowa Central Community CollegeMay 1
Iowa Lakes Community CollegeJuly 1
Iowa State UniversityDec. 18
Iowa Valley -- Ellsworth Community CollegeMarch 1
Iowa Valley -- Marshalltown Community CollegeMarch 1
Iowa Western Community CollegeJuly 1
Kirkwood Community CollegeJuly 1
Loras CollegeMarch 15
Luther CollegeMarch 15
Maharishi University of ManagementAug. 1
Mercy College of Health SciencesJuly 1
Morningside CollegeFeb. 28
Morningside CollegeFeb. 28
Mount Mercy UniversityJuly 1
North Iowa Area Community CollegeMarch 1
Northeast Iowa Community CollegeJuly 1
Northwest Iowa Community CollegeApril 1
Northwestern CollegeJune 30
Orion Technical College 
Palmer College of Chiropractic 
Simpson CollegeApril 1
Southeastern Community College 
Southwestern Community CollegeJuly 1
St Ambrose UniversityOct. 1
St Lukes CollegeMarch 1
University of DubuqueApril 1
University of IowaDec. 1
University of Northern IowaJan. 15
Upper Iowa UniversityJune 30
Waldorf UniversityMarch 1
Wartburg CollegeMarch 1
Western Governors University 
Western Iowa Tech Community College 
William Penn UniversityJuly 1