The 2027-28 FAFSA Is Open

The Department of Education launched the 2027-28 FAFSA on September 23, the earliest release in the form’s history and just over a week ahead of the October 1 deadline Congress set. Beta testing wrapped up earlier this month, so the form is now open to every student and family.

For seniors, that means aid applications can start right now instead of waiting for the fall rush. The Department says the redesigned form takes about 15 minutes on average, with plainer language in place of the jargon that tripped families up in the past. Students can also invite a parent or other contributor to the form by text or email, and the Department says results now come back almost immediately. The form covers enrollment between July 1, 2027 and June 30, 2028.

Timing is worth emphasizing with families. Some state and institutional aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and many states and schools set deadlines well ahead of the federal cutoff. Filing early is the simplest way to avoid missing out.

A few practical points to pass along:

• Gather documents first – The form uses income information from the 2025 tax year, so families should have those tax records ready before they start.
• Check state and school deadlines – These vary widely and are often much earlier than the federal deadline.
• Beta filers are done – Students who completed the form during beta testing submitted a real application and don’t need to file again. This carries over from your beta post, so confirm it still holds now that the form is live.

Start the 2027-28 FAFSA at StudentAid.gov