The 2027–28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened on Sept. 23, the earliest public launch of the form to date. The application determines students’ eligibility for federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, work-study and federal student loans. States, colleges and some scholarship programs also use FAFSA information when awarding aid.
This year’s FAFSA comes with some changes intended to make the application easier to complete. The U.S. Department of Education says the form uses clearer language and less confusing terminology. Students can also invite a required “contributor,” such as a parent or spouse, to complete their portion of the form through either text or email. Education Department officials estimate the application now takes about 15 minutes on average to complete.
While the federal deadline for the 2027–28 FAFSA is not until June 30, 2028, students may have much earlier deadlines from their state or college. Filing earlier can also give students more time to fix errors, submit additional documents and meet school-specific requirements. Some types of financial aid, including Federal Work-Study, are limited, making an early application particularly useful…