Education Department announces earliest FAFSA launch in program history
The redesigned application uses clearer language, text and email contributor invites and real-time results that the department says take about 15 minutes.
- The Department of Education launched the simplified FAFSA early for the 2027-28 school year on studentaid.gov today, aiming to help families navigate rising college costs.
- This marks the second consecutive year the agency launched the form before the October 1 mandate set by the FAFSA Simplification Act, which Congress passed during President Donald Trump's first term.
- Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent said the redesigned form removes "confusing jargon" and takes 15 minutes on average to complete, helping students access available financial aid.
- Kyla Hurns of The Education Trust called FAFSA the "gateway" to postsecondary education but warned the system only achieves its goal if Pell Grant funding keeps pace with inflation.
- A September 2025 Pew Research Center poll found 60% of Americans believe colleges are doing a poor job keeping tuition affordable, reflecting broader affordability concerns shaping family decisions.
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29 Articles
Filling out FAFSA forms just got easier. Here’s what’s new for 2027
"It's clearer; it's been streamlined. It'll take most families less than 15 minutes to complete," Mark Kantrowitz, author of several books on paying for college, including one on filing the FAFSA, told WTOP.
2027-28 FAFSA Opens Earlier Than Ever as Families Face Rising College Costs
The U.S. Department of Education has opened the 2027-28 FAFSA, giving students and families earlier access to the federal financial aid application for the academic year beginning July 1, 2027. The form became available on September 23, 2026 — the earliest public launch in FAFSA history and the second consecutive year the Education Department has released the application before October 1. The previous record was set when the 2026-27 FAFSA opened…
Fort Smith/Fayetteville News
FAFSA form now available for students applying for financial aid | What to know about changes to the process
The financial aid form normally becomes available on Oct. 1, but it launched earlier than ever before.
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