"All students can now access a beta version of the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the Department of Education announced Wednesday. The grant application platform won't officially launch until Oct. 1, the congressionally mandated FAFSA launch deadline, but for the 12 days between now and then, students and families can start their application by participating in the test model."
""We're using this time to monitor a limited number of FAFSA submissions to ensure our systems are performing as expected," the department's Federal Student Aid website explains. "This is a common practice in website and software development." The first round of beta testing was opened to a limited number of students in early August. Students who submit their form during the test will only have to submit it once, the department website states."
Students can access a public beta of the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid ahead of the official Oct. 1 launch. The beta period covers the 12 days before the congressionally mandated FAFSA launch deadline and allows students and families to begin their applications using a test model. The Department of Education will monitor a limited number of FAFSA submissions during the beta to confirm system performance. An initial beta round opened to a smaller group in early August. Forms submitted during the test period require only a single submission.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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