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Arizona financial aid guide · State programs + FAFSA deadlines
Arizona has several state programs on top of federal Pell — including the Arizona Promise Program (last-dollar tuition coverage), Earn to Learn (4:1 matched savings), and Prop 308 (in-state tuition for students regardless of immigration status). Most families miss at least one of them. This guide explains each one and the deadlines that matter.
Arizona-specific programs
Arizona Promise Program
State grantLast-dollar tuition coverage at ASU, UA, or NAU
Who: Arizona residents with household income ≤ 150% of federal poverty level, FAFSA required, full-time enrollment
Deadline: Priority: October 1 (FAFSA must be submitted); program awards based on FAFSA results
Fills the gap between federal Pell + institutional aid and actual tuition. Stacks with Pell Grant.
Proposition 308 (Earned In-State Tuition)
Tuition equityIn-state tuition rate at AZ public universities and community colleges
Who: Students who attended AZ high school for 2+ years AND received an AZ diploma or GED; no citizenship requirement
Deadline: Apply directly to the institution — declare eligibility when applying for admission
Does NOT provide cash aid — it locks in the lower in-state tuition rate, which saves $10,000–$20,000/year vs out-of-state.
Earn to Learn Arizona
Matched savings grantUp to $8,000 in matched savings (4:1 match)
Who: AZ residents with household income ≤ 200% FPL; must save monthly for 1 year before college
Deadline: Enroll before college starts; open enrollment year-round
Save $2,000 → receive $8,000 in matching grant funds. Combined with Pell and Promise, can dramatically reduce net cost.
AZ Teachers Academy (formerly Teachers Academy)
Forgivable loanUp to $10,000/year, forgiven after 3 years teaching in AZ public school
Who: Education majors attending AZ public university; commit to teaching in AZ public schools
Deadline: Applications open annually; check ADHE.edu for current cycle
Effectively a grant if you plan to teach in Arizona. Reduces debt with no payback if you fulfill the service commitment.
Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (AzLEAP)
Need-based grantVaries (supplemental to federal SEOG)
Who: Arizona residents with exceptional financial need (Pell-eligible); attend eligible AZ institution
Deadline: Applied automatically via FAFSA; no separate application at most schools
AzLEAP funds are distributed by each institution — ask your financial aid office if you're eligible.
Arizona National Guard Tuition Waiver
Military benefitUp to 100% tuition waiver at AZ public universities
Who: Active members of the Arizona Army or Air National Guard in good standing
Deadline: Apply through your unit education officer each semester
Does not cover room, board, or books. Stacks with federal GI Bill benefits in some cases — ask your education officer.
Key FAFSA and aid deadlines for Arizona students
FAFSA opens
Submit as early as possible — some state aid is first-come, first-served.
Priority FAFSA deadline (most AZ schools)
Missing priority deadlines costs state and institutional grant money, not just federal aid.
Arizona Promise Priority Deadline
Promise awards are based on FAFSA data — late filers may receive less or none.
ASU scholarship application deadline
Merit scholarships at ASU require a separate scholarship application — not just FAFSA.
UA scholarship application deadline
Similar to ASU — submit the UA scholarship application separately from your admission application.
Community college priority FAFSA
Maricopa Community Colleges, Pima CC, and others each have their own priority dates — check each school.
Myths that cost Arizona families money
"Our income is too high for financial aid."
The FAFSA calculates your SAI (Student Aid Index), which considers many factors beyond gross income — household size, assets, number of college students. Many families with $80K–$120K household income qualify for institutional grants. You don't know until you file.
"We should wait to file FAFSA until we know which school we're choosing."
File as early as possible — October for the priority window, February at the latest. Many state and institutional grants are first-come, first-served. Waiting costs real money.
"Scholarships will reduce my financial aid."
Scholarships first reduce your unmet need and then your loans — they almost never reduce your grants dollar-for-dollar. In most cases, winning a scholarship reduces how much you borrow, not how much grant aid you receive.
"We're undocumented so FAFSA doesn't apply."
Undocumented and DACA students cannot file the federal FAFSA, but they may still qualify for in-state tuition (Prop 308), state programs, and private scholarships. File the AZ state financial aid form if available, and use the Aid Finder to map your full eligibility.
Related tools and guides
Aid eligibility finder
Maps your full aid picture: Pell, Prop 308, state grants, scholarships — in one screen.
FAFSA prep checklist
Everything you need to file before you sit down — documents, logins, and common errors.
Appeal your financial aid
If your family's situation changed, you can appeal for more — here's how to write that letter.
What does my SAI number mean?
The SAI is not your out-of-pocket cost. This decoder explains what it does and doesn't mean.
Arizona state aid programs
Deep dive into Promise, Earn to Learn, AzLEAP, and tribal aid programs.
Complete guide to paying for college
All 8 steps from FAFSA to first payment — for students and families.