The U.S. Department of Education is looking for students to help test the 2026–2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form before it’s released by October 1.
By joining beta testing, students can:
• Submit their 2026–2027 FAFSA form early
• Get a head start on the financial aid process
• Be part of shaping the future of the FAFSA experience
Sign up: StudentAid.gov/joinbeta
Or scan this QR code:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FAFSA form?
The FAFSA form is the free application students and families complete to apply for federal student aid for college or career and technical schools. This includes federal grants, loans, and work-study funds, plus many states and colleges use it to award their own aid.
What is beta testing?
Beta testing means trying out a new version of something before it’s available to everyone. In this case, students who join the FAFSA beta get early access to the 2026–2027 FAFSA form so the U.S. Department of Education can make sure everything works smoothly.
How do students and families request to participate in the beta?
It’s simple, they can go to StudentAid.gov/joinbeta and request access. Participants will be admitted through September.
How will students and families learn if they have been selected to participate in the beta?
Students will receive an email upon their selection to the beta. Students can also visit the beta signup page (StudentAid.gov/joinbeta) where they will see their status. All students on the beta list will be invited to fill out the FAFSA form once the form becomes available to the general public.
Do students and families who participate in beta have any advantage over those who do not?
No. Students who don’t join beta will still have access to the FAFSA form when it goes live to everyone by October 1, 2025. But if students submit during beta, their FAFSA form is real, so they don’t have to submit it again later.