Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced that the 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is online and available, marking the earliest launch in the program’s history. After years of mismanagement under the previous Administration’s leadership, the Trump Administration prioritized accessibility and technical expertise to deliver the form for American students and families at a historic pace.
“I am extremely proud to announce the earliest launch of the FAFSA form in history, which ensures American students and families have access to critical resources as they begin or continue their postsecondary education journey,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “No one would have thought this was possible after the Biden-Harris Administration infamously botched FAFSA’s rollout two short years ago. Under President Trump’s leadership, our talented team has redesigned and streamlined the process so all American students can now successfully complete the form in minutes.”
Ensuring an on-time, smooth FAFSA experience has been a top priority of the Trump Administration. With this historic launch, the FAFSA technical team put the FAFSA process back on track, providing students, families, and college-access partners with the certainty they need to prepare to finance postsecondary education, while providing schools and states the reliable information they need to support their students.
Watch the announcement video here.
Modernized Features & Improvements
As part of the 2026–27 launch, the Department introduced a series of updates designed to streamline the application process and strengthen system performance.
- Redesigned Contributor Invite Process: Students can now invite their parent or contributor to complete their portion of the FAFSA form with a simple code. This redesign will improve completion rates, increase satisfaction, and reduce call center volume.
- Instant Verification for New StudentAid.gov Accounts: Students and parents now receive faster account confirmation, reducing delays and frustration.
- Industry-Leading Best Practices: Enhancements ensure students have access to the best tools and resources. Colleges and universities receive more accurate data and stronger protection against fraud and abuse.
Strong Early Beta Performance
The 2026–27 FAFSA form has been available in a beta period since August 3, 2025. As of September 23, Federal Student Aid’s data gathered during multiple beta tests conducted across the country prove that the form is ready for all students and families.
User Feedback:
- 97% of respondents reported satisfaction with the FAFSA form
- 90% said it took a reasonable time to complete the FAFSA form
Applications:
- 43,531 applications started
- 27,246 applications submitted
- 24,793 applications processed
- 23,840 processed without rejection
Background & Next Steps:
In August, Secretary McMahon attended a successful 2026–27 FAFSA beta testing event with education leaders, students, and families in Florida, marking the earliest successful test launch of the FAFSA form in history.
On August 27, Secretary McMahon certified to Congress that the 2026–27 FAFSA form would launch on time this fall. Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the FAFSA Deadline Act, the Department must certify the form’s launch by September 1, and launch by October 1. Congress mandated the October hard deadline due to the Biden-Harris Administration's delay in launching the FAFSA by the traditional deadline, which caused confusion and unnecessary stress for millions of students.
Under the first Trump Administration, Congress passed the bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act and FUTURE Act to make it easier for students to apply for federal student aid. The Trump Administration has invested in further enhancements:
- A beta testing period for the 2026–27 FAFSA form
- An upgraded version of its virtual assistant Aidan®
- A new centralized digital portal, FAFSA Central, at fafsa.gov/fafsacentral