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The U.S. Department of Education is set to initiate the first testing phase for the 2025-26 application for federal student financial aid on Tuesday, expecting a larger participation than originally planned. This testing period is part of a carefully staggered approach aimed at identifying any potential issues before the application becomes available to the wider public on December 1.
Previously announced in August, the phased rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) intends to allow a growing number of students to complete the new form in four distinct testing stages that will commence on October 1. This is a departure from the traditional timeline, as the form will be accessible two months later than usual. The decision comes after the 2024-25 form encountered a series of notable challenges, which the department has since worked to address following the implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act in late 2020.
In September, the Department of Education revealed that six community-based organizations have been selected to participate in the first testing stage. These organizations include Alabama Possible, Bridge 2 Life from Florida, College AIM from Georgia, Education is Freedom from Texas, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara in California, and the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria from Virginia.
FAFSA executive adviser Jeremy Singer highlighted the anticipated participation of nearly 1,000 students in this first stage, which exceeds the earlier projection of 100 students. He emphasized the importance of feedback from these organizations in refining the application process.
During this initial phase, U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal stated that the department will process the submitted FAFSAs, allowing students to correct any errors and ensuring that the final records are shared with colleges and state agencies. Kvaal pointed out that this collaboration would enable colleges to utilize these records when making financial aid decisions for prospective students.
Three more testing periods planned
On Monday, the department also announced 78 additional organizations—including community-based groups, governmental bodies, high schools, school districts, and higher education institutions—that will partake in the three forthcoming testing phases of the 2025-26 FAFSA.
Among the participants in the initial testing stage, organizations such as Bridge 2 Life from Florida, Education is Freedom from Texas, and the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria from Virginia will continue their involvement in subsequent rounds of testing.
To assist students and families in preparing for the upcoming application cycle, the department has committed to releasing a revised Federal Student Aid Estimator, along with enhanced resources for creating a StudentAid.Gov account. This includes a newly developed “parent wizard” feature and a prototype of the 2025-26 FAFSA designed to improve user experience.
Recently, the department published a report detailing ten key initiatives aimed at enhancing the FAFSA application process. These steps include bolstering the leadership team, addressing the challenges faced by families who do not possess Social Security numbers while completing the form, and increasing support through the addition of over 700 new call center agents.
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