As concerns grow over possible federal education shutdowns, many worry that financial aid could be slowed or cut.

If the department's duties are reassigned and another government agency takes over FAFSA processing, experts say any changes to the current year's application process likely would be minor. " ...

The 2025-26 FAFSA opened on Nov. 18 after two months of beta testing. The process is smooth, and students should submit their forms ASAP. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are ...

Contact them directly. Typical FAFSA processing times Your application should process between three to five days if you submit it online, and it will take seven to 10 days to process if you send ...

The announcement marks a pivotal moment in the continuing FAFSA saga. Throughout the 2024-25 cycle, technical errors and processing delays stymied students, parents, and college officials ...

Students technically have until June 30, 2026 to complete the FAFSA forms, and schools are processing the forms they have received so far from the Education Department. The federal deadline lasts ...

But making a mistake on the FAFSA or submitting the application late can result in processing delays or limit the amount of loans, grants and other aid awarded to a student, experts say.

“The FAFSA form is live, and the department is actively processing online submissions and sending them to schools so they can get financial aid into the hands of students,” Education Secretary ...

“We know this decision creates additional burdens for institutions that are already experiencing a heavy workload and increased demands during this extraordinary FAFSA processing cycle,” it ...

groups will be keeping a watchful eye after the FAFSA chaos last year that has some colleges still processing the forms. “I will say there definitely is not 100 percent trust from the financial ...

The rollout of the new federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, has proven to be a royal mess with all of its delays, glitches and processing errors that have hindered schools ...

Navigate the vital link between tax filing and financial aid eligibility. Understand the FAFSA process, exceptions, and tools ...