The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open to all students as of Nov. 18 — and you should submit it as soon as possible if you think you might be in college next year ...

This redesign came about after Congress passed the Fafsa Simplification Act in 2020. While the Fafsa usually opens on Oct. 1 each year, the 2024-25 didn’t become available until Dec. 30, 2024.

The department is rolling out two beta testing phases before the application is fully available to everyone in October.

The FAFSA is designed to target the neediest students for federal and state grant aid. But if some students don't fall under that umbrella, they may not qualify for any federal grants or state grants.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA form will apply for college attendance between July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. You can submit for up to 20 schools to receive your information.

The 2024-25 FAFSA is delayed, but there are things you can do now to make sure you’re ready to go when it’s released in December 2023.

Here's what to know when you're applying for financial aid in 2022 for 2023 and 2024, including when FAFSA is due and what information you need.