Here’s What You Need to Know As You Fill Out The New FAFSA

After a complicated and delayed launch last year, the Department of Education released the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application earlier than planned.

Students can begin their FAFSA application now and send their information to up to 20 colleges to determine how much federal aid they can receive for the 2025-26 school year. The department had set a goal to launch the application on Dec. 1 but was able to open it on Nov. 21 after testing it with students.

Here’s some information to keep in mind as you fill out the student aid paperwork.

What Is New With the Form?

Last year, the department introduced a complete overhaul of the system as a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, which aimed to make applying for federal aid simpler and allow more lower-income students to be eligible for more aid.

The overhaul included many new terms and formulas, which delayed the launch and complicated the college application process for many families. This year, the department has introduced a few changes to simplify the FAFSA further and avoid delays.

There is now a “Who’s My FAFSA Parent?” tool to help dependent students identify who is a required contributor. Contributor was a term introduced on the 2024-25 FAFSA form and refers to a dependent student’s biological or adoptive parents or parent’s spouse.

This tool will help students understand who is required to provide their information and their consent to have their federal tax information transferred from the IRS into the FAFSA form.

A page will also show up if a student’s or their parents’ information was successfully matched with IRS records to ease the transfer of tax information.

In addition, the label “Student Other Circumstances” was changed to “Student Homelessness” for students who are unsheltered.

There will also be a confirmation window for students who select “Yes” to have their school determine their eligibility for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan only and no other federal student aid.

Why Is The FAFSA Open Early?

To avoid the significant delays experienced last year, the department began work on the forms early.

This year, the form was tested by students seven weeks before its release to ensure significant delays would not happen again. The department finished the adjustments and testing earlier than planned.

“After months of hard work and lots of feedback from students, schools, and other stakeholders, we can say with confidence that FAFSA is working,” Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education, said in a statement.

The deadline to turn in the FAFSA is June 30, 2026, so students who start in the spring or summer semester will still have a chance to be awarded federal aid. However, it is important that students consider the state they reside in and the college they will be attending, as these deadlines are typically sooner.

It is also generally advised that students complete the form sooner rather than later, as some federal financial aid is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Next year, the FAFSA application should open even earlier as the FAFSA Deadline Act was unanimously approved in the House and Senate. The act requires the department to make the form available by Oct. 1 of each year.

When Will I Get An Answer About My Aid?

The department said that this year, online submissions should be processed in one to three days, and paper forms should take seven to ten days.

The status of the online form can be checked at any time on the Federal Student Aid website. After the form is processed, it will be sent to the schools you list that can receive your FAFSA form.

Last year, the department had to push back the date on which they would give colleges the students’ financial aid information until early March when it typically sent information in October as soon as applications opened.

The department has said that 700 agents have been added to the Federal Student Aid Information Center since January, and they can provide families with additional help completing the form.