Think it’s too soon to start the financial aid process? Think again!

The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open to current and potential college students, and East Tennessee State University officials encourage students to complete the online form as soon as possible.

The U.S. Department of Education released the FAFSA in late September – ahead of its intended release date of Oct. 1.

“The FAFSA is the gateway not only to all federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant and Federal Work Study Program, but also to many other funding opportunities,” said Catherine Morgan, director of the ETSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. “Many scholarships, including the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, or ‘lottery scholarship,’ and other forms of financial assistance, are not available without a completed FAFSA. Filing the FAFSA early means you won’t miss out on opportunities that could save you thousands of dollars.”

Morgan encourages students planning to attend ETSU in fall 2026 through summer 2027 to file the FAFSA online at FAFSA.gov, using ETSU’s school code, 003487.  

Need help?

Morgan recognizes that the financial aid process can seem intimidating to students and families, but she emphasized that assistance is available.

“Every student's financial aid journey is unique,” she said. “Each student has an assigned financial aid counselor that provides personalized guidance, and our website has a great deal of information. In addition to links to the FAFSA and scholarship application, it contains a library of video tutorials called Financial Aid TV; a reference and resource guide called Bucky’s Financial Aid Treasure Map; a 24/7 virtual assistant named, appropriately, Bucky; and so much more.”

These resources are available at etsu.edu/financial-aid-and-scholarships.

Assistance is available through the Educational Opportunity Center for submitting the FAFSA and addressing other concerns related to college and career preparation. Eligible participants must complete the short application, which may be found at etsu.edu/academicaffairs/trio/eoc. Students may also call (423) 392-8041.

Free, hands-on FAFSA help is also available at the Tri-Cities Financial Aid Night on Oct. 14 from 5-8 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Student Center ballroom. The opportunity for assistance is free and open to the public.

Changes in 2026

Federal legislation passed in July has reshaped student aid. Here’s what to know about the legislation and how it affects students:

  • New borrowing limits: Graduate students will be capped at $20,500 per year (lifetime limit of $100,000), while professional students face a $200,000 lifetime limit. Parent PLUS loans are now limited to $20,000 annually with a $65,000 lifetime cap per student.
  • Pell Grant changes: A new calculation method will determine Pell Grant eligibility, and students with non-federal aid covering their full cost of attendance are not eligible to receive the Pell Grant.  
  • Part-time enrollment impact: Students enrolled less than full-time will have their loan amounts reduced proportionally starting July 2026.

Scholarship assistance

Current and admitted ETSU students should also complete the 2026-27 University Scholarship application to be considered for various scholarships. The application opens on Oct. 1 and is available at etsu.edu/university_scholarships/application. The deadline is March 1, 2026. Early applicants have a better chance of receiving first-come awards.

Students should routinely monitor their ETSU email for important reminders and updates. This will help ensure a smoother financial aid process.

‍