The Office for Federal Student Aid has launched the test version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ahead of schedule, aiming to enhance accessibility in higher education. Following the delays and glitches from the previous year's application rollout, the Department of Education made significant changes, including hiring an outsider for leadership. Planned beta testing will start with a select number of families, with hopes to boost application completion rates and improve troubleshooting tools. The FAFSA application for the 2026-27 academic year is set to officially open on time on October 1.
The Office for Federal Student Aid launched the test version of this year's Free Application for Federal Student Aid earlier than ever before, marking the beginning of "the next chapter in making higher ed more accessible."
The launch of the 2025-26 FAFSA was slightly delayed, but the agency spent months testing the form before opening it up to all students, making the process smoother than in the past.
By launching ahead of schedule, the department hopes to boost application completion rates, improve troubleshooting tools for financial aid advisers and increase overall speed of the process.
As we celebrate this milestone, we also push forward, building a FAFSA that truly meets the evolving needs of students, families, and schools.
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