U.S. Department of Education Reaches Historic Milestone in FAFSA Completions

The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced that more than 5 million 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) forms have been successfully submitted by students and families across the country, a nearly 150% increase in the number of applications submitted at the same time last year. After years of mismanagement by the Biden Administration, this year, the Trump Administration launched the earliest and most streamlined FAFSA form in history.

The Department received the 5 millionth submission yesterday after launching the FAFSA form just three months ago. At the same time two years ago, the number of completed forms was zero. Last year, the number of completed applications was barely more than 2 million.

"Completing the FAFSA form is a critical first step in many postsecondary education journeys. And just two short years ago, not a single American student had completed the FAFSA form by December 17th. Contrast that with today, where 5 million aspiring college students have not only started, but successfully completed and submitted their FAFSA forms," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "Our extraordinarily talented FAFSA team has redesigned and streamlined the form, all while launching the earliest form in history - a huge win for students and families."

"The students that our members serve rely on financial aid to make college possible. That reality is why the National College Attainment Network, and many of our member organizations have been proud to partner with The Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid to implement and improve the simplified FAFSA," said National College Attainment Network CEO Kim Cook. "Because of this excellent work, the high school class of 2026 may reach the highest FAFSA completion rate ever, ensuring that more students will gain access to the Pell Grants that help make postsecondary education more affordable." 

Background:

• Earliest FAFSA Launch Ever: The 2026-27 FAFSA form opened earlier than any prior cycle, providing students and families the earliest opportunity on record to complete the aid application.
• Modernized and Streamlined Experience: The Department has continued to enhance the form based on user feedback and system performance, improving overall usability.
• Positive User Feedback: More than 96% of respondents have reported satisfaction with the form so far this year. In addition, 91% of respondents said the new form took a reasonable amount of time to complete.
• Year-Over-Year Growth: As of Dec. 17, submissions for the 2026-27 FAFSA cycle outpaced volumes for the same period for the 2025-26 cycle, reflecting stronger engagement across both new and returning applicants.
• Support for Students and Families: Expanded outreach, multilingual resources, and improved digital assistance tools have helped more students access and complete the FAFSA form confidently.
• Successful Beta Testing: Through a collaborative beta process grounded in industry best practices, students, community organizations, and Federal Student Aid staff helped test, validate, and refine the FAFSA form ahead of public release.
• Post-Completion Transparency: The Department recently launched a new transparency initiative to provide students and families with key financial earnings data so that they can make informed decisions about which institution to attend.

More information about the FAFSA form is available at fafsa.gov/fafsacentral.

Contact

Tags