NEWS • INSIGHTS • PERSPECTIVES
The 2027-28 FAFSA opened on September 23, 2026, the earliest launch in the form’s history and the second year in a row it has gone live before the October 1 legal deadline. Students planning to enroll between July 1, 2027, and June 30, 2028, can apply for free at StudentAid.gov. The federal deadline is June 30, 2028, but many states and colleges set much earlier priority dates, such as Texas on January 15, 2027, and California on March 2, 2027, so filing early matters. This year’s form uses plainer language, makes it easier for returning students to renew, and lets applicants invite parents or other contributors by text or email. The Education Department says most families can finish it in about 15 minutes.