2025-26 FAFSA delayed

Another year, another FAFSA delay. The FAFSA form for students entering college in Fall 2025 would normally open on Oct. 1, but will instead be rolled out in phases and be fully available by December 1.

The FAFSA will only be initially be available for testing with a limited number of students and institutions. The Department of Education said this process will allow them to test and resolve issues before making the form available to more students and “contributors,” the term used for parents or anyone else, such as the spouse of a student, required to provide information on the form.

The form will be made available to an increasing number of participants, with the Department saying it will be available to all families on or before December 1, 2024.

This comes on the heels of last year’s major overhaul beset by numerous errors, that significantly delayed the financial aid process for students and families.