Can you use the FAFSA for trade school?
Yes. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) isn’t only for colleges and universities. If your trade school is accredited and takes part in federal student aid, filing the FAFSA is how you apply for Pell Grants, federal work-study and federal student loans. States and schools also use it to award their own grants and scholarships.
Recent changes (as of October 2026)
- The 2027-28 FAFSA is open. It opened October 1, 2026, two months earlier than the previous year’s form, which opened December 1.
- Pell Grant eligibility tightened. Starting with 2026-27, students whose Student Aid Index (SAI) is at least twice the maximum Pell Grant ($14,790 for 2026-27) can’t receive Pell.
- Family farms and small businesses no longer count as assets on the FAFSA. This applies to businesses with 100 or fewer employees and farms where the family lives.
- Workforce Pell began July 1, 2026. It can cover short job-training programs (8 to 15 weeks) once a state approves them. You apply for it through the same FAFSA.
What’s coming next
- June 30, 2027: Final federal deadline for the 2026-27 FAFSA.
- Spring 2027: Many state and school priority deadlines for 2027-28 aid.
- June 30, 2028: Final federal deadline for the 2027-28 FAFSA.
Which FAFSA should you file?
| If your program starts… | File this FAFSA | Tax year it uses | Federal deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 | 2026-27 | 2024 | June 30, 2027 |
| Between July 1, 2027 and June 30, 2028 | 2027-28 | 2025 | June 30, 2028 |
Many trade school programs start several times a year. If yours runs across July 1, you may need both forms. Ask your school’s financial aid office.
Who qualifies for federal aid at a trade school
To get federal student aid you generally need to:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen with a valid Social Security number
- Have a high school diploma, GED or recognized equivalent, or qualify through an approved ability-to-benefit option. See Trade School Requirements.
- Be enrolled in an eligible certificate, diploma or degree program at a school that takes part in federal aid
- Not be in default on a federal student loan
- Keep up satisfactory academic progress once you’re enrolled
Pell Grants and subsidized loans also depend on financial need.
Check your school first. Not every trade school takes part in federal aid. Search for the school on the Federal School Code Search. If it isn’t listed, you can’t use federal aid there.
What aid the FAFSA unlocks
- Federal Pell Grant: Free money for undergraduates with financial need. Up to $7,395 for 2026-27.
- Workforce Pell Grant: Pell funding for approved short-term job-training programs.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): Extra grant money for students with exceptional need, at schools that offer it.
- Federal Work-Study: Part-time jobs to help with expenses, at participating schools.
- Federal student loans: Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, plus Parent PLUS loans.
- State and school aid: Many state grants and school scholarships use your FAFSA results.
What you need before you start
- A StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID) for you and for each contributor. Create it a few days early, because it can take time to verify.
- Your Social Security number (or Alien Registration number if you’re an eligible noncitizen).
- Consent to share tax information. You and each contributor must agree to let the IRS transfer your federal tax data directly into the FAFSA. Without consent, you won’t get a Student Aid Index or federal aid.
- Records of assets and untaxed income, such as cash, savings, investments and child support received.
- Your list of schools. You can add up to 20, including your trade school’s federal school code.
Who counts as a contributor?
A contributor is anyone who must provide information on your FAFSA. If you’re a dependent student, that’s usually one or both parents. If you’re independent and married, it’s your spouse. Most adult career changers are independent students, which makes the form shorter.
How to fill out the FAFSA, step by step
- Create StudentAid.gov accounts for you and any contributors.
- Start the form at StudentAid.gov and choose the correct year.
- Invite contributors. Each one completes their own section and gives consent.
- Add your schools, including the trade schools you’re considering.
- Sign and submit. Most forms are processed within a few days.
- Review your FAFSA Submission Summary. It shows your Student Aid Index (SAI) and an estimate of your Pell eligibility. Fix any mistakes.
- Watch for your aid offer from each school, and respond to any requests for documents, called verification.
When to file
File as soon as you can. The federal deadline is the last possible day, but state and school deadlines come much earlier, and some state and school aid runs out. Check your state’s deadline at StudentAid.gov. You need a new FAFSA for each school year.
What happens if you don’t finish your program?
- Loans: You must repay federal loans whether or not you finish.
- Grants: If you withdraw before completing about 60% of a payment period, your school must return part of your federal aid. You may have to repay part of a Pell Grant.
- Future aid: Dropping out can affect your academic progress standing, which can affect aid at your next school.
- If your school closes, you may qualify for a closed school discharge of your loans. See Student Loan Forgiveness for Trade Schools.
Federal student loans are very hard to discharge in bankruptcy. You have to prove “undue hardship,” so plan on repaying any loans you take out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use FAFSA for trade school?
Yes, as long as the trade school is accredited and takes part in federal student aid. Search for the school on the Federal School Code Search to confirm.
When is the FAFSA deadline for trade school?
The federal deadline for the 2027-28 FAFSA is June 30, 2028, and for 2026-27 it’s June 30, 2027. State and school deadlines are much earlier, so file as soon as possible.
Does the FAFSA cover short trade school programs?
Programs of at least 600 clock hours (about 15 weeks) can qualify for regular federal aid. Since July 1, 2026, Workforce Pell can also cover state-approved programs of 8 to 15 weeks.
Do I need my parents’ information on the FAFSA?
Only if you’re a dependent student, which generally means under 24, unmarried, without children and not a veteran. Most adults returning to school for a trade are independent.
Is there an age limit for the FAFSA?
No. You can file at any age.
What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?
The SAI is the number schools use to decide your eligibility for need-based aid. It replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). A lower SAI means more need-based aid. It can be as low as -1,500.
Last reviewed: October 2026