To Students & Parents: Understanding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 2025-26

The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, will be available to all graduating seniors and parents on 12/1/2024. Currently, it is open only to individuals invited to the beta release. Meanwhile, here's what students and parents need to understand and do to better prepare for a smooth process from the beginning to the end.

The 2025-26 award year marks the second execution since the FAFSA Simplification Act took place in the 2023-24 application filing year. With the removal of Selective Service registration and prior convictions from the previous form, the new version now includes social identity/category-related questions such as applicant's gender, race, and ethnicity, in addition to financial information. The FAFSA data submitted to the Federal Student Aid will then be computed for a Student Aid Index (SAI), which colleges & universities receive to prepare a financial aid packet for each admitted student for the 9 months' time of the award year.

What to Do

• For those applying to schools requiring a CSS Profile (administered by the College Board) in addition to the FAFSA form, students and parents may start to answer a more comprehensive series of questions. The filing period begins on 10/1 with various deadlines & numbers of questions set by each of the colleges/universities. Sign in to Fall 2025/Spring 2026 *Note: Students use the same SAT log-in/Password; parents also use the student's log-in credentials to complete the CSS Profile application.

• Create an FSA ID now. The contributor (parent) also needs to have their own FSA ID. The log-in credentials cannot be shared. If the contributor was a student and had previously filed the FAFSA form, use the same ID to complete the parent portion. Create an Account in seven steps.

• Identify who the right contributor is to provide information and sign the form. Is My Parent a Contributor

• Fast forward to spring 2025, it's crucial to request a Special Circumstances form from the Financial Aid office at the college/university you wish to attend when there was OR will be a reduce income in either of the year or years after that's required to be reported on the FAFSA.

• Check your colleges/universities for their FAFSA filing deadlines, as most have a much earlier due dates than the standardized federal one (6/30).

What to Avoid

• Not reviewing before submission - - Not reviewing the information you've input carefully before hitting the submission button can be difficult to correct. Although, corrections can be made promptly by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-772-1213 and notifying the school you applied/intend to enroll for any changes made.

• Not reporting financial information accurately Part I - - Not reporting financial information accurately can be deemed as falsification and the student may not become eligible for receiving federal student aid. In such a case, an *asterisk is marked by the SAI., indicating that colleges/universities may contact for requesting documentation to verify the information & data input in the FAFSA form.

• Not reporting financial information accurately Part II - - as long as we're talking about money, reporting college savings account(s) as student investment instead of the parent's can increase the number on the student's SAI. Reporting the parent's retirement plans, life insurance, and the value of the primary residence is unnecessary.

• Not completing all questions - - Not completing questions by leaving the answer fields blank can trigger an "Action Required" message on the Submission Summary page. Entering a zero (0) or N/A to indicate non or not applicable is advisable.

• Not using personal email address - - Not using personal email address on the FAFSA form may run the risk of not receiving communication from the financial aid office after the last day of high school.

  
  

Required Documents to Complete the FAFSA Form

• 2023 tax information

• Form W-2 and/or Form 1099

• Student and parent assets, which means any money available, liquid or non-liquid. Examples as such may include but not limited to cash, bank accounts, CDs, stocks, stock options, bonds, net worth of an enterprise with and above 100 FT employees, real estate properties/investments, college savings accounts, Uniform Gifts to Minors Act/Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, etc.

  
  

The 2025-26 FAFSA form should run smoothly when students and parents understand what to expect and do between now and 12/1/2024. Use the CSP Library to learn additional tips & resources on how SAI is calculated and the status of your FAFSA form.