New law mandates October 1 FAFSA form launch annually.

While the FAFSA typically launches in October, the Department of Education previously had until January 1st to release the form. This new law addresses criticism following the department’s troubled rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA, which was plagued by glitches and errors, delaying its launch until January. Further compounding the issue, the department initially planned a staggered rollout for the 2025-26 form to address potential problems, delaying its availability even further. However, after testing beginning October 1st, the 2025-26 form fully launched in late November, ten days ahead of its official December 1st release.

A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed their commitment to upholding the newly passed law. As of Thursday, the department reported receiving over 1.5 million 2025-26 FAFSA submissions and delivering more than 7 million student records to states and schools. Despite this progress, Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal emphasized that the department’s work is ongoing, stating their intention to continue improving the user experience and resolving any remaining issues.

The bill enjoyed strong bipartisan support, passing swiftly through both the House and Senate in November. It was introduced in July by Indiana Representative Erin Houchin and Senator Bill Cassidy, who is set to chair the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions next year. Representative Bobby Scott praised the legislation, highlighting the importance of timely access to financial aid in the face of rising college costs.

The 2024-25 FAFSA underwent a redesign following the passage of the FAFSA Simplification Act in late 2020, but encountered significant problems leading to delays and incomplete submissions. The department addressed these issues and learned from the experience to improve the 2025-26 form and future iterations.