The opening of the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cycle is shaping up to be a major improvement over last year’s tumultuous
rollout. With a streamlined application process, rigorous beta testing, increased staffing at the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Resource Center, and expanded access to federal financial aid, the changes are making a tangible difference for most students
and families.
One of the most notable updates to the FAFSA for the 2025-26 cycle is its ease of use. The redesign incorporates a more intuitive interface, clearer instructions, and enhanced technology to reduce errors and frustration. These updates come on the heels
of feedback from stakeholders during the challenging 2024-25 cycle, where delays and technical issues left many feeling overwhelmed.
The changes to the aid formula implemented last year are also resulting in more postsecondary students receiving aid this fall. As of mid-November, more than 5% more students are receiving federal financial aid than were last year at this time, and nearly 14% more are receiving Pell Grants, according to data from the US Department of Education. This increase reflects the broader eligibility changes intended to ensure more students have access to vital financial resources.
An exception to this improved experience is for students from mixed-status families. Please note NCAN’s guidance for these families to consider before creating a StudentAid.gov account or submitting a FAFSA.
Positive Reviews from the Field
Across the country, many National College Attainment Network (NCAN) members are reporting smoother experiences for students and families completing the FAFSA. For example, in south central Washington state, Alma Castillo, Career Readiness Coordinator
at Educational Service District 105, shared her excitement about the region’s financial aid events:
"Our south-central Washington state region financial aid nights have gone well! Our student and family engagement has been successful and seems much smoother than last year. I am excited for the rest of our financial aid nights scheduled this month and to jump back in at the new year."
This sentiment is echoed in Mississippi, where Brian Thomas, Director of the Jackson Get2College Center at the Woodward Hines Education Foundation, highlighted the positive impact of the changes:
"[At a recent event] I met with 14 students and their parent(s) and fully submitted 13 FAFSAs! The only one we did not submit was because [the] parents file separately and needed to create an FSA ID for the second parent. I did not run into any glitches. The [IRS direct data exchange] pulled federal tax information for all parents but one. However, that parent had their taxes handy, so we were able to manually input 2023 tax information. Even during 2025-26 Beta testing, things ran smoothly here for us!"
Looking Ahead
While it’s still early in the FAFSA season, the 2025-26 cycle is off to a promising start. We know some students will still encounter problems, but so far, they have been much reduced from last year.
NCAN recently launched our 2025-26 FAFSA page, which features a variety of tools and resources anyone completing and/or aiding with completion of the FAFSA can utilize. Click here to learn more about using our new page. NCAN has also set up a Slack channel for our members centered on the 2025-26 FAFSA. We encourage you and your colleagues to join and use it to ask questions as well as share experiences
and resources related to the FAFSA. Click here to learn more (NCAN member login required).
NCAN will continue to monitor the rollout and share updates from the field. In the meantime, these early successes are a hopeful sign that the FAFSA changes are on track to deliver lasting benefits for many students and families nationwide.
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