The US Department of Education is currently working on the next version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). As per recent information, the process is progressing well, and the form could soon be made widely available online to students. On November 14, the Department of Education issued a release regarding the final beta testing period for the 2025-26 FAFSA form. It announced that the form has entered its final beta testing phase, building on the successful results of the first three beta periods.
According to the release, since October 1, more than 14,000 students have successfully submitted their 2025-26 FAFSA forms. The department has processed these submissions and sent over 81,000 records to more than 1,850 schools. The US Department of Education has prioritized addressing issues and improving the user experience during the application process. These enhancements have resulted in a satisfaction rating of 95% among beta participants.
The release further details that the final testing period will include two phases: Beta 4 and Expanded Beta 4. By the end of the month, the Department of Education will open Beta 4 to any interested students or families. This means that anyone who wishes to access the online form during the Beta 4 testing phase will be able to do so through the FAFSA website.
During this period, the department will carefully monitor the FAFSA form, overall system performance, and support operations. Once it determines that the FAFSA system is functioning smoothly under high user volumes, beta testing will conclude, and the official release of the 2025-26 FAFSA form will be announced.
The release also states that students who submit a FAFSA form during Beta 4 and Expanded Beta 4 can make corrections to their application after it is processed without needing to resubmit a 2025-26 FAFSA form.
Furthermore, during the beta period, the Department of Education has resolved known issues and implemented fixes to enhance user experience and improve the functionality of the FAFSA form. Additionally, the department has launched several initiatives and updated resources to support users. These resources include:
- Creating your StudentAid.gov account
- Pro tips for completing the FAFSA form
- Federal student aid estimator
- “Who’s the parent on the FAFSA form” Wizard
- Federal Student Aid YouTube channel
The Department of Education has stated that it will make the decision to end beta testing and officially release the 2025-26 FAFSA form based on factors such as platform stability and customer satisfaction, no later than December 1.
Click here to read the official release issued by the US Department of Education.
