The Education Department has announced its strategy for the FAFSA in the upcoming year, but an expert warns of the "potential for chaos."

• The FAFSA launch for the 2025-26 academic year will be phased to identify and resolve any problems with the aid application process.
• Numerous families rely on financial aid to help pay for college expenses.

The U.S. Department of Education has unveiled more information about the launch of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the upcoming academic year, which may help resolve the problems faced during the previous college aid application process.

The Education Department announced that the 2025-26 FAFSA will be made available to limited groups of students through beta tests starting on Oct. 1, before being accessible to all students and contributors on or before Dec. 1.

In October, the form for the upcoming academic year is typically accessible to all students.

FAFSA Executive Advisor Jeremy Singer stated that the beta testing period is being utilized to identify and rectify problems with the FAFSA form prior to its release to millions of students and their families.

The student aid application for the 2025-26 academic year will be implemented in phases, as announced by the department.

No-loan policies are being introduced by more top colleges in the nation.

'The potential for chaos'

Although we would prefer an earlier FAFSA opening date, we advocate for end-to-end testing to guarantee the product's functionality for students, families, and schools, as stated by Beth Maglione, interim president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Mark Kantrowitz, a higher education expert, expressed skepticism that the department will be able to tackle all the challenges within the given time frame, despite the benefits of testing and improving usability.

Kantrowitz stated that two months is insufficient to execute changes.

He expressed a major worry that they appeared to be treating the beta testing as a means to boost confidence in a flawless system, without considering potential issues.

Kantrowitz stated that even if the FAFSA fiasco from last year did not occur, Murphy's Law still suggests that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Proper planning for the beta testing is crucial to prevent potential chaos.

Financial aid is key amid rising costs

Many families rely on financial aid to cover the increasing cost of college, which is approaching $100,000 per year.

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 Sallie Mae's recent report, students are increasingly relying on loans to pay for college, and the number of parents taking out federal parent PLUS loans has also increased.

Experts suggest prioritizing the full functionality of the FAFSA for next year, even if it means a delayed start, they say.

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 following high school, as found in an NCAN study using 2013 data.

Elizabeth Morgan, a spokesperson for the National College Attainment Network, stated that the department's testing plan is a vital step.

Morgan emphasized the importance of increasing FAFSA completion rates to enable more students to access Pell Grants and pursue higher education.