The U.S. Department of Education opened the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026–27 school year, but only for a select group of students.

The form is currently in beta testing, a two-phase rollout designed to test the system before it becomes fully available to everyone on October 1.

For many families, the FAFSA is the gateway to college affordability. It determines eligibility for federal grants, loans and work study and is often used by states, colleges and even private scholarship programs to award financial aid. With millions of students depending on it each year, the Education Department says this slow rollout is intended to make sure the form works properly after last year’s troubled launch.

How the beta testing works

The first phase of testing has closed. It gave early access to a small number of students and families selected through the department’s partnerships with schools and community organizations.

The second phase, underway through September, is open to students who request access. Not everyone who applies will be accepted. The Education Department is extending invitations gradually, depending on testing needs.

Students who are selected for the beta can submit their 2026–27 FAFSA now. Importantly, they won’t have to resubmit when the full launch happens in October. For those not selected, the form will open to everyone nationwide at the start of October, with a federal deadline of June 30, 2026.

The Education Department says the phased rollout allows it to monitor performance in real time, ensuring the system can handle the massive demand once it’s open to all.

“We’re using this time to monitor a limited number of FAFSA submissions to ensure our systems are performing as expected,” the agency said in a statement.

That caution stems from recent history. The 2024 FAFSA rollout was supposed to simplify the process after a redesign.

Instead, students faced months of delays, technical errors and eligibility issues. Some colleges received student data so late that financial aid packages went out just weeks before the semester began. At one point, a calculation error threatened to withhold $1.8 billion in aid from students.

The department is determined not to repeat that chaos. By testing early, officials hope to avoid another year of disruption that left students and families in limbo.

Who should fill out the FAFSA?

Every student planning to attend college in the 2026–27 academic year, whether as a first-year or returning student, should submit the FAFSA. Even if you think your family’s income is too high, you may still qualify for federal loans, work-study, or state and institutional aid. Some merit-based scholarships also require FAFSA information.

Whether or not you’re part of the beta test, you can prepare now so you’re ready to file as soon as the form goes live. The first step is creating an account at studentaid.gov. From there, you’ll want to gather the key documents needed to complete the application, including:

- Social Security number

- Driver’s license or state ID

- Alien registration number (if applicable)

- Federal income tax returns, W-2s and records of income

- Bank statements and records of investments

- Records of untaxed income

Dependent students will also need to include information from their parents. The Department of Education offers a “Who’s My Parent?” tool to clarify whose financial details must be reported.

If you’re interested in joining the beta test, you can request access online. Keep an eye on your email — invitations are being sent throughout September. If you don’t receive one, plan to apply starting October 1, when the form opens nationwide.

For now, the most important step is preparation.

The sooner you have your documents and account ready, the faster you’ll be able to submit once the application officially launches.

This post was originally published on Defender Network.