FAFSA's Phased Rollout Still On Schedule

The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid is being tested in stages before its full launch. The U. S. Department of Education says it's on track for the upcoming academic year. So far, some students have been using the 2025-26 FAFSA in beta tests that started in October. It will be available to everyone by December 1. This is different from previous years where all students could access the form in October. Last year, the new simplified form was delayed until late December.

James Kvaal, the Under Secretary of Education, told CNBC that he's confident the form will launch by December 1. However, there are still some problems that need to be fixed. There are 22 unresolved issues, down from 25 a few weeks ago, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. Last year, some students and families had trouble with the new form, affecting their college decisions. Kvaal said they've heard many complaints and have made progress in resolving these issues. Now, more students can complete their forms.

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