The U.S. Department of Education (Department) has announced a new phased approach for launching the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA® form). Starting October 1, a limited group of students and institutions will gain early access to the form for testing. The Department aims to make the application fully available to all students by December 1. This approach is shaped by extensive feedback from students, educational institutions, and other key stakeholders.
During the testing phase, the Department will gradually expand access to an increasing number of participants, beginning with hundreds and growing to tens of thousands. This step-by-step rollout will help identify and resolve potential issues before the form is widely available. By implementing this approach, the Department ensures that all critical functionalities, including form submission and back-end processing, are fully operational from the start.
“After a challenging 2024-25 FAFSA cycle, we’ve listened closely to students, families, and higher education institutions. We’ve made leadership and operational improvements at Federal Student Aid and adopted a new strategy to enhance the FAFSA experience,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Through collaboration with stakeholders, we’ve developed a more effective implementation plan for 2025-26. I look forward to continuing our work to ensure a smoother FAFSA rollout that better serves students nationwide.”
The phased release follows best practices from the software industry, enabling the Department to work with small groups to identify and correct system errors that could impact millions of applicants and thousands of colleges. This gradual approach also allows for real-time improvements based on user feedback, ensuring clearer instructions and additional support for students, families, and the broader education community.
Thanks to targeted investments through the FAFSA Student Support Strategy and strong partnerships with community stakeholders, student application success rates have significantly improved over the past six months. The submission gap, which stood at nearly 40% in March, has now dropped to under 4%.
"We’ve heard students, families, and higher education professionals loud and clear—they want a more efficient and predictable FAFSA process," said FAFSA Executive Advisor Jeremy Singer. "By working closely with our partners, we’re confident we’ll not only deliver a better product but also a smoother process that makes higher education more accessible to more Americans."
Throughout the testing period, the Department will provide frequent updates to students, families, and community stakeholders, ensuring transparency and clarity regarding the rollout process. These updates will help build confidence among students, institutions, state agencies, and other key partners.
Additionally, the Department will continue gathering input through upcoming listening sessions in August and a formal request for information set to be released next week. Insights gained from these discussions will inform a newly developed roadmap featuring enhanced tools and resources for students, families, counselors, and educational institutions to ensure a successful 2025-26 FAFSA season.
In the coming weeks, more details will be shared about how the testing period will function. The Department remains committed to maximizing financial aid access for students and is working diligently to ensure that both students and institutions have a seamless experience with the 2025-26 FAFSA form.