Despite unresolved issues, the FAFSA rollout is progressing smoothly, according to the Education Department.

• The 2025-26 FAFSA is set to launch in full by December 1, according to the Education Department.
• The college application process is crucial for many families, and the financial aid application is a vital component of it.

The phased rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid is on schedule for the upcoming academic year, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The 2025-26 FAFSA will be accessible to all students and contributors on or before December 1, following a series of beta tests that began in October.

James Kvaal, Under Secretary of Education, stated on CNBC that he is confident they will launch next year's form by December 1.

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According to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz, there are still "many unresolved problems," some of which also affected last year's college aid application cycle.

The number of unresolved issues on the government's FAFSA Issues page has decreased from 25 to 22 as of Oct. 29, according to him.

Some high school seniors reported that the new form's complications influenced their college choices last year.

"Kvaal stated that many students and families had expressed frustration, but they have made significant progress in resolving those issues and more students are now able to complete their forms."

The FAFSA's impact on college choices

Numerous students rely on financial aid to pay for their college expenses.

The cost of higher education is already unaffordable for most families, and college costs continue to rise. In the 2024-25 school year, the average tuition and fees plus room and board for a four-year private college was $58,600, an increase of $2,210 from the previous year. At four-year, in-state public colleges, it was $24,920, an increase of $840 from the previous year, according to the College Board.

The FAFSA is the key to accessing all federal aid funds, including federal student loans, work-study, and especially grants, which are increasingly important because they do not require repayment.

According to the National College Attainment Network, submitting a FAFSA is a reliable indicator of whether a high school senior will attend college. In fact, seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to enroll in college immediately after graduation, as found in an NCAN study of 2013 data.

Freshman enrollment is down

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that the number of new first-year college students decreased by 5% this fall compared to the previous year, due to various reasons.

The report found that four-year colleges serving low-income students experienced the most significant declines in first-year student enrollment, with a drop of over 10% among those where a large share of students receive Pell Grants.

The drop in enrollment was "shocking," especially at schools that serve a high share of lower-income students, according to Ellie Bruecker, director of research at The Institute for College Access and Success.

She remarked that it was a significant matter to witness such a decline.

Bruecker stated that she anticipates the Education Department will fulfill the deadlines they've established for the 2025-26 school year.

Although the October FAFSA rollout is typically condensed, students may still face disadvantages, as she pointed out.

"Despite a successful outcome this time, we are still working on a shorter timeline, which means we are cutting off two to three months. This could be stressful for families and students who depend on financial aid."