This week, new Apply for Federal Student Aid for Free expanded its “Phased rollout“So all students can now apply for aid for the next academic year.
As of Monday, the 2025-26 FAFSA was only available to a limited group of students in a series of beta tests that began on October 1.
Now that the form is open to everyone, the Department of Education has said it will stop testing entirely by November 22, bringing the official launch forward.
Normally, all students get their forms for the next academic year in October, but last year’s new simplified forms weren’t available until the end of December. months-long delays.
This year, the program will be available to all students and contributors on or before December 1.
The Department of Education said students who submit forms during the final “Extended Testing” period before Nov. 22 will not need to submit subsequent 2025-26 FAFSA forms explain.
More from Personal Finance:
Here’s how to prepare for the FAFSA
Top 10 Colleges for Financial Aid
More top universities across the country launch no-loan policies
Higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz said there are still some issues with the new form, some of which also plagued last year’s college aid application cycle, but they all have workarounds.
Overall, he said, this year’s launch was “much better than last year’s.”
last year, complication The new form resulted in some students not applying at all. Ultimately, this means Fewer students are entering college.
Why it’s important to submit your FAFSA early
“Students should take advantage of the early rollout and submit the FAFSA as soon as possible,” said Shaan Patel, CEO and founder of Prep Expert, which provides academic aptitude testing and college test preparation courses.
The sooner families fill out the form, the better their chances of receiving aid, since some financial aid is provided on a first-come, first-served basis or comes from programs with limited funding.
“The earlier you apply, the better your chances of receiving more aid that you don’t have to repay,” said Patel.
“Submitting early also means you’ll receive your financial aid award letter sooner,” he said. “This gives you plenty of time to compare offers from different schools and make an informed decision without feeling rushed. Finally, knowing your child’s financial aid status early can reduce stress and allow your family to focus on college. Other important aspects of preparation.
For many students, Financial aid is key.
higher education The cost is already beyond the reach of most families, and college Costs are still rising. Tuition and fees plus room and board at four-year private colleges will average $58,600 in the 2024-25 academic year, up from $56,390 a year ago. The College Board found that tuition at a four-year, in-state public college was $24,920, up from $24,080.
What the FAFSA does is gateway All federal aid funds, including federal student Loans, work-study, and especially grants—these have become the most important types of aid because they typically do not need to be repaid.
Submitting the FAFSA is also one of the best predictors of whether high school students will go on to college, according to the National College Attainment Network. Seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely According to NCAN’s study of 2013 data, students enter college directly after high school.
