U.S. Secretary of Education confirms on time launch of the 2026–27 FAFSA form

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a letter to Congress certifying that the 2026–2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form will be available on time this fall for students and families across the country.

In the letter to congressional leadership, Secretary McMahon confirmed that the form will launch by the congressionally-mandated October 1 deadline. 

“Under President Trump’s leadership, our team has prioritized technical competence and expertise, which has led to the earliest testing launch of the FAFSA form in history, “said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The Biden Administration failed the FAFSA rollout two years ago, leaving millions of American students and families without clear answers or a path forward in their educational journey. Congress gave us a mandate to improve the form and deliver it on time for students, families, and institutions of higher education – and I am proud to certify that the form will launch on time this fall.”  

In early August, Federal Student Aid (FSA) began a nationwide beta testing phase for the 2026-2027 FAFSA form, granting early access to a limited group of students. Beta testing is an industry best practice that allows organizations to test and refine a product in real-world conditions before full deployment. This year’s beta testing has allowed FSA staff to identify bugs and technical issues, refine usability and design, and improve performance for the fall launch. 

Earlier this month, Secretary McMahon attended a successful 2026–2027 FAFSA beta testing event with education leaders, students, and families in Florida, marking the earliest successful test launch of the FAFSA form in history. Following the Florida event, the Department launched ‘Beta 2,’ where any current and aspiring student can request access to fill out the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov/joinbeta. 

In 2019, Congress passed, and President Trump signed the FAFSA Simplification Act and FUTURE Act to make it easier for students to apply for federal student aid. As required under Section 484(d)(4)(B) of the Higher Education Act, as amended by the FAFSA Deadline Act, the U.S. Department of Education must certify the launch of the form to Congress by September 1.