The 2026-27 FAFSA is open – here’s what you need to know

By Elinor Frisa

The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid became available Sept. 24, earlier than its traditional release date of Oct. 1. This was a welcome change for applicants and schools, as recent years were marked by federal delays and scrambling as the application process was overhauled.

VCU News caught up with Sandra Redley-Butler, director of Virginia Commonwealth University's Student Financial Management Center, for insight into what's different about this year's FAFSA application - and to get tips for students and families.

First things first: What's the deadline for the 2026-27 FAFSA, and when should students and families fill it out?

Although the federal deadline to complete the FAFSA is June 30, 2027, that's the very end of the cycle - and the earlier you fill out the form, the better your chances at being considered for the most aid. Many states and colleges have much earlier deadlines, and VCU's priority FAFSA deadline is Feb. 1, 2026 - which is coming up soon, and is far ahead of the federal deadline.

What's new or different about the 2026-27 FAFSA?

The form has been streamlined, with fewer questions and a simplified login process. Overall, the application is much simpler and more inviting. Among changes this year:

• The contributor invitation flow is streamlined: You only need an email address to invite contributors.
• Real-time Social Security Number matching has been implemented: When an applicant creates a Federal Student Aid ID for the first time, identity verification with the Social Security Administration will occur immediately in many cases (rather than taking days).
• The new, simpler form has far fewer questions - 36, as opposed to more than 100.
• Students can list up to 20 colleges, which is higher than previous limits.
• Some family farms and small businesses don't have to be counted as assets anymore.
• Pell Grant rules have been updated, and not everyone who qualified previously will still be eligible. Applicants with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $14,790 or higher will be ineligible.
• The form will be offered in multiple languages (the 11 most common languages).

Will the federal government shutdown affect the FAFSA or student financial aid?

Need FAFSA help?

During a shutdown, many federal employees are temporarily furloughed, and some services pause. The Department of Education and Federal Student Aid manage most student aid programs, so their operations may slow - but critical services, like disbursing aid, continue under contingency plans.

Most Pell Grants and Direct Loans will continue to be disbursed during a shutdown. These programs are funded in advance (or through mandatory funding), meaning the money is already available for your school to draw down and apply to your account.

And generally, FAFSA processing continues during a shutdown. However, there may be delays in related processes that depend on other federal agencies, such as IRS data retrieval or noncitizen eligibility checks. Students may also find it harder to reach the Department of Education for questions during a shutdown.

What do I need before I start filling out the FAFSA?

Have these items ready:

• Your Social Security Number.
• 2024 tax information (from W-2 wage and tax forms, and 1040 tax return forms) for you and your parents, if you're a dependent; you can import tax information directly from the IRS (the FAFSA will use the Direct Data Exchange to let applicants and contributors transfer tax data securely).
• Bank and savings information (if any).
• An FSA ID (a login for you, and one for your parent if needed).
• A list of schools to which you want to send your FAFSA.

When will students find out how much financial aid they will get?

The first step is federal processing, which typically takes one to three days for an online application. VCU will begin to receive processed FAFSAs approximately in mid-November 2025. At VCU, new freshmen and transfer student financial aid packaging for fall 2026 will begin in January 2026. Enrolled student packaging for fall 2026 is expected in June 2026. Students are encouraged to check their VCU eServices account on a regular basis.

Any tips or other things applicants should know?

Yes. Here are a few things to remember:

• After you submit your FAFSA, you'll get a confirmation screen/email. Save or screenshot it!
• If you make a mistake, you can log in again and make corrections before the FAFSA Feb. 1, 2026, priority deadline.
• If you or your parents didn't file taxes for 2024, that's OK - you'll just need to show proof of income or a nonfiling letter. The FAFSA will guide you during the application process.
• If your family's money situation has changed after you submitted your FAFSA, contact VCU's Student Financial Management Center at [email protected].

What's the biggest thing you want students to know about this year's FAFSA?

We encourage all current and prospective VCU students to fill out the FAFSA, even if they aren't sure if they're eligible. This includes families with high income: They often think there is little value in doing a FAFSA, but the data is often used to make decisions on eligibility for other forms of aid (other than federal).

And a second big thing is simply restating what I shared first: Complete your FAFSA by VCU's priority deadline of Feb. 1, 2026, which can help you be considered for the best financial aid package possible, based on your eligibility.