Preparing for the FAFSA form submission this year: A compressed timeline.

• The 2025-26 FAFSA is set to launch in full by December 1, according to the Education Department.
• Here are a few steps you can take now to prepare.
• Numerous families rely on financial aid to help pay for college expenses.

The Education Department has announced that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 2025-26 will be accessible to all students and contributors by December 1st.

The 2024-25 FAFSA form was delayed in its release, following a phased rollout to address issues reported in the previous cycle. Despite the simplification of the form last year, some problems persist.

Some families pay $500,000 for Ivy League admissions consulting.

While the prolonged testing period for the 2025-26 FAFSA is crucial, another delayed start can result in a condensed deadline for students and families to submit their financial information, potentially causing missed chances for financial aid, according to Beth Maglione, interim president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

How to prepare for the 2025-26 FAFSA

"Maglione advised families to prepare their financial documents and information in advance, so they can apply for college financial support as soon as it becomes available. This will help them avoid missing out on crucial financial aid."

Maglione advises that students and parents take five crucial steps to prepare for their application as soon as it is released.

1. To access and complete the FAFSA electronically before the new form opens, students and their parents (if the student is a dependent) can create a username and password, commonly known as the FSA ID.
2. Students, parents, and student spouses should have their Social Security number, driver's license or state identification number, or Alien Registration number on hand when registering for an FSA ID.
3. Students must submit tax returns from the 2022-23 tax year for the 2025-26 FAFSA application.
4. The FAFSA mandates the submission of financial records, including bank accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate (excluding the family home), and other investments, as well as any untaxed income sources such as child support or government benefits.
5. The FAFSA application requires a list of schools that the applicant is applying to or attending.

Why the FAFSA is so important

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.

How FAFSA failures have impacted students

It became clear how much financial aid weighed heavily on decisions about college after last year's FAFSA complications.

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 discovered that four-year colleges that cater to low-income students experienced the most substantial declines in first-year student enrollment.

The decline in first-year student enrollment at four-year colleges where a significant number of students receive Pell Grants exceeded 10%.