Education Department: 2025-26 FAFSA to fully debut by Dec. 1

To avoid a repeat of this year’s glitches, the agency plans to release the form for testing starting Oct. 1 with a limited number of students and institutions.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2025-26 academic year will be fully available by Dec. 1 — two months later than the form’s usual debut, according to an announcement Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Education. 

Starting Oct. 1, the Education Department will test the new form with a limited number of students and institutions. This phased approach is aimed at ensuring complete functionality when the form fully launches, officials said in a news release.