WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: A sign marks the entrance to the U.S. Department of Education … [+]
The Department of Education quietly announced that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be open for all families to complete as of November 18, 2024, as it wraps up final beta testing.
While the official opening date is set for December 1, the Department of Education is wanting more families to start the process while it ensures there are no issues. So, while all families can start the FAFAS process as of today, it’s important to remember that this is still the end of beta testing, and some issues may arise.
Families who want to start filing out the FAFSA now can start the process here: StudentAid.gov.
FAFSA Delays
The U.S. Department of Education made huge errors when it came to rolling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024-25 academic year, and it all started with the delay of its launch. A range of glitches created barriers for students long after the form came out as well, which is part of the reason FAFSA submissions for high school seniors were down significantly last year.
Higher education consultant Danilo Umali of Game Theory College Planners points out that, until last year, the FAFSA filing season typically began on October 1st. This meant that high school seniors could fill out the FAFSA during autumn of their final year of high school with the goal of getting financial aid lined up for college by late spring.
But the U.S. Department of Education rolled out a new, updated FAFSA form for the 2024-25 academic year that led to a delayed launch. To avoid that again this year, the Department of Education has been implementing a phased launch.
“Starting on October 1, the Department will release the 2025-26 FAFSA form for testing with a limited set of students and institutions,” stated the Department in a press release. “The Department will make the application available to all students on or before December 1. This process is informed by conversations and feedback from thousands of students, institutions, and other stakeholders.”
“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,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
Fast forward to today, and the final phases of the testing period are wrapping up with the FAFSA being open to all students and families.
Be Prepared
Whether the Department will improve the FAFSA experience this year remains to be seen, but based on the early testing, it appears the process may be improved.
However, families with a dependent heading off to college in the 2025-26 academic year should get started on the form as soon as they possibly can. Umali says one way to do this is to have their 2023 tax returns filed so the FAFSA can properly interface with the IRS to report income. He adds that any recent changes to your family’s financial situation that are not reflected on your 2023 tax return should be noted as it can form the basis for an appeal or reconsideration for additional financial aid.
“This can include any employment status or income reductions,” he says. “In some cases, this can include any extreme or unusual financial hardships that the family may have experienced.”
Karissa Peckham, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Quinnipiac University, says that students and their parents should also visit Studentaid.gov to create an account to receive their Federal Student Aid IDs. She adds that many institutions will start offering financial aid workshops and information sessions soon as well, and that these sessions are a good place to ask questions about aid opportunities and more.
Finally, it’s important to remember that there are a range of financial aid deadlines to know about. Sarah Austin of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators points out that colleges and universities may have school-specific deadlines for completing the FAFSA. Beyond that, schools and states may also have their own financial aid applications with deadlines that are totally separate.
This means students and their families should begin the FAFSA process as soon as they can, submit the form early, and leave extra time to fix any problems that arise. This can help ensure they meet all the deadlines that apply for the college(s) of their choosing.
Other Ways To Pay For College
Rick Castellano, who serves as VP of Corporate Communications at Sallie Mae, says students should explore sites like Scholarship Search by Sallie to check for potential financial resources. After all, outside scholarships can benefit students on top of other aid they receive, and they can help students reduce their borrowing costs for college.
Austin adds that parents should check with their employers to see if scholarships or other forms of financial assistance are available to the employees’ children for postsecondary education. Some employers will also help students pay for college if they work enough hours while in school, either through free college credits at certain schools or through tuition reimbursement programs.