The Department of Education released the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid form on Nov. 21, 2024, 10 days before its initial goal of Dec. 1. The form must be submitted by June 30, 2025.
The FAFSA is a free form that allows students to be eligible to receive federal financial aid in the form of grants, loans and scholarships for college or career schools. Last year, the Department of Education faced numerous problems with the delayed rollout of the form, releasing it on Dec. 30 instead of Oct. 1 as it had in past years. Since then, it’s revamped its contact center for students and families.
It has increased staffing by nearly 80% and will continue to add agents to its contact center, which now offers evening and weekend hours. Contact center hours will extend until March 2 and can be found here.
A newly passed bill authored by Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana, the FAFSA Deadline Act, will require the Department of Education to make the FAFSA available by Oct. 1 in future years.
To fill out the FAFSA form, both the student and the contributor(s) — the student’s parent, spouse or legal guardian — will first need to create a StudentAid account. Students and contributors will need their Social Security Numbers (or A-Numbers for non-U.S. citizens), tax returns, balances in current checking and savings accounts and other general financial information. Forms can be printed and mailed or filled out online through the FASFA website.
After the student’s dependency status is confirmed, they can invite contributors by providing the contributor’s name, date of birth, email address and SSN.
While filling out the form, students can expect to answer questions about their circumstances, demographics and financials. They have the option to send the form to up to 20 schools. Once both the student and the contributor fill out the FAFSA, it will be submitted for processing.
The priority deadline for Indiana residents is April 15, though those who do not meet the deadline should still submit the form.
