Education Department rolls out testing process for FAFSA form
The Department of Education on Wednesday announced that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2025-2026 academic year will not become available nationwide until Dec. 1, two months later than usual.
The department plans to begin testing the form at volunteering institutions on Oct. 1 before making it available everywhere, according to a press release. The new process is based on “conversations and feedback from thousands of students, institutions, and other stakeholders,” the release explains.
The department’s new online form, which students can fill out to see if they’re eligible for financial aid, was plagued by bugs and missing features that caused delays at colleges and universities after its launch in the previous academic year.
Jeremy Singer, president of the College Board, in June took a temporary leave of absence to serve as FAFSA’s executive advisor.
“Following a challenging 2024-25 FAFSA cycle, the Department listened carefully to the input of students, families, and higher education institutions, made substantial changes to leadership and operations at Federal Student Aid, and is taking a new approach this year that will significantly improve the FAFSA experience,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in the release.
The department claims the new process is consistent with best practices used by the private sector in testing new products. It says it will share updates with students and families as testing progresses.
