The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2026-27 school year has opened for a limited number of students as part of a beta test, according to the Department of Education
ByADRIANA MORGA Associated Press
NEW YORK — The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2026-27 school year has opened for a limited number of students as part of a beta test, the Department of Education says.
The department is rolling out two beta testing phases before the application is fully available to everyone in October. At first, the FAFSA form will be available for a small number of students and families, chosen via existing partnerships with community organizations and schools.
“We’re using this time to monitor a limited number of FAFSA submissions to ensure our systems are performing as expected,” the department said on Monday.
In September, students will be able to request participation in the second phase of beta testing. Participation will be limited, so not everyone will be accepted, said the Education Department.
Here’s what you need to know.
The FAFSA is a free government application that uses students’ and their families’ financial information to determine whether they can get financial aid from the federal government to pay for college.
The application will send a student’s financial informatio