The federal government has opened the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming 2027-2028 academic year earlier than usual, marking the first time the forms are available this soon. The move follows past disruptions under recent reforms, which had led to delays and complications in previous years. Students now have access to the application ahead of the typical October start date, though past issues raised concerns about the process’s reliability. The shift could impact financial aid planning for millions of prospective college students.
The Education Department announced Wednesday the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms for the 2027-2028 school year were open for students, the earliest the forms have been available. The FAFSA forms, which traditionally opened Oct. 1, had a few chaotic starts under the Biden administration while reforms were made to the applications, leaving...
