The U.S. Department of Education announced the organizations selected for the 2025-26 FAFSA beta testing. The initial phase, Beta 1, begins on October 1 with a small group of students recruited by six community-based organizations (CBOs) submitting their FAFSA forms. This phase will continue through the first half of October.

FAFSA Executive Advisor Jeremy Singer stated, “We are grateful for the efforts of all our partners in this beta testing – CBOs, high schools, colleges and others – who are working so hard to ensure that the first group of participating students can begin submitting their forms October 1.”

Subsequent stages include Beta 2 in mid-October, Beta 3 in early November, and Beta 4 in mid-November. These stages will involve increasing numbers of students from various institutions filling out FAFSA forms to identify and resolve system errors.

For Betas 2–4, the Department has selected 20 CBOs and governmental entities, ten high schools or school districts, and 48 institutions of higher education. These selections aim to represent diverse student populations across different regions and states.

The CBOs involved work with students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college students, mixed-status families, and those experiencing homelessness or incarceration. The beta tests will also include public charter schools, private preparatory schools, private religious high schools, and large school districts with significant populations of foster care students and students with disabilities.

The Department aims to test financial aid systems developed by leading software vendors at these institutions. Selected institutions include those from U.S. territories and multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Additionally, state agencies that provide financial aid or track FAFSA completions in states where participants are located can participate by downloading Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs).

The Department is committed to providing updates on FAFSA beta testing at fafsa.gov/beta.

New resources released this week include a revised Federal Student Aid Estimator for estimating the 2025-26 Student Aid Index (SAI) and federal Pell Grant eligibility calculation. Other resources include updated tools for creating a StudentAid.Gov account and an updated prototype of the 2025–26 FAFSA form.

In September, approximately 500,000 more students became eligible for Federal Pell Grants compared to the same point in 2023. The Department shared an update on its review of the 2024–25 FAFSA implementation outlining ten actions taken to improve user experience since December 2023.

U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal remarked: “With the help of college counselors and advisors across the country, we continue to help more students complete the FAFSA and access financial aid... We won’t rest until we reach all students who need help completing college without excessive student debt.”

Secretary Cardona's letter outlined FSA’s efforts to modernize its operations including revamping leadership teams and enhancing vendor oversight.

Selected Participants:

Organizations/Institutions/Districts | State

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Arizona Board of Regents | AZ

Homeless Youth Connection | AZ

Arizona State University | AZ

College Match | CA

Northern California Recruiting Battalion | CA

Camino Nuevo Charter Academy | CA

San Francisco County Office of Education | CA

California Baptist University | CA

California State University Fresno | CA

California State University Los Angeles | CA

California State University Sacramento | CA

California State University San Marcos | CA

Reach University | CA

Santa Clara University | CA

University of California Merced | CA

University of Southern California | CA

Ventura College | CA

And many more across various states including Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Guam Community College (Guam), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Massachusetts (MA), Maine (ME), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi(MS), North Carolina(NC), Nebraska(NE) New Jersey(NJ) New Mexico(NM) New York(NY) Pennsylvania(PA) Puerto Rico(PR) South Carolina(SC) Tennessee(TN) Texas(TX) Utah(UT)V irginia(VA) Washington(WA) Wisconsin(WI).

For more information visit fafsa.gov/beta.