The U.S. Department of Education announced today that over 8 million Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms for the 2025-26 academic year have been submitted and processed. This marks a nearly 50% increase compared to the previous year, following issues with the Biden Administration's handling of the 2024-25 FAFSA rollout.
Federal Student Aid (FSA) typically provides an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) within one business day after students submit their FAFSA forms. These records are essential for admissions officers in calculating financial aid offers.
The Department has also introduced improvements to the FAFSA form aimed at enhancing user experience and preventing fraudulent activities, while preparing for the release of the 2026-27 form.
“The Biden administration’s FAFSA failure affected hundreds of thousands of American families – not only forcing colleges and universities to push back their enrollment deadlines but leaving students in the dark about their future education,” said Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the FAFSA form is a priority and we are correcting course by implementing industry best practices, which has resulted in providing universities with accurate data, ensuring American students have access to the best tools and resources, all while cracking down on fraud.”
In its effort to combat fraud and abuse, the Department has resumed flagging potentially fraudulent activity on FAFSA forms. This includes identifying applicants suspected of identity theft.
Addressing past problems with batch corrections under the Biden Administration, the Department announced on February 27 that batch corrections for both 2024-25 and 2025-26 cycles are now generally available following successful beta testing. These corrections allow institutions to update information more efficiently.
The Department has also opened a public comment period for feedback on the upcoming 2026-27 FAFSA form. The comment period will conclude on April 7, with plans to release the new form by October 1.
