The U.S. Department of Education announced on Mar. 26 that more than 10 million Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms for the 2026–27 academic year have been completed and processed by Federal Student Aid. This figure represents a significant increase compared to previous years, with a reported rise of 17 percent from last year and a 487 percent increase over two cycles ago.
This development is notable as it follows what the Department described as the earliest launch of the FAFSA form in history, which officials say aims to address previous delays and provide timely access to financial aid resources.
In addition to this milestone, the Department updated data on March 22 powering both the College Scorecard and the FAFSA form’s earnings indicator. These updates are intended to offer students and families clearer information about post-graduation earnings and potential financial outcomes at different institutions. The College Scorecard’s search function has also been enhanced so users can compare student outcomes by field of study.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said, "Following the earliest FAFSA launch in history, the Trump Administration continues to deliver historic and timely updates to the form – ensuring that students and families can make informed decisions while applying for financial aid." McMahon added, "The College Scorecard and earnings indicator will help drive informed decision-making before students take on thousands of dollars of debt, and support families in accessing critical resources as they begin or continue their postsecondary education journey.”
Other improvements highlighted include a redesigned process allowing students to invite contributors using personalized codes, new measures aimed at preventing fraud—claimed by officials to have saved taxpayers over $1 billion last year—and plans for future ease-of-renewal features that will pre-populate student data starting with the next application cycle.
The Department stated it remains on track to release next year's FAFSA form by October 1. Students and families seeking more information are directed to StudentAid.gov.
