2026-27 FAFSA application: Here's how Long Island students can file early
Beta testing of the 2026-27 FAFSA is underway, ahead of its official launch in October. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh
The federal Department of Education will let a limited number of students submit early financial aid applications in September, as it tests the online portal before it opens to everyone.
College and graduate school students and their families can go to Studentaid.gov next month to request early access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the 2026-27 school year, the Department of Education said.
Taking part in so-called beta testing is a way for families to get next year’s financial aid forms out of the way and help prevent problems with this year’s FAFSA rollout, financial aid advisers said.
“It's always a good idea for students to try to do their FAFSA as soon as possible,” said Nicholas Prewett, executive director of financial aid and scholarship services at Stony Brook University. The school has already received one application for the 2026-27 academic year during beta testing, he said.
Prewett said the early application process “is also a way for families to kind of go through the process to test it, to make sure that it works for everybody else, and so I think it's kind of a win-win for everybody.”
What is FAFSA, and why do students and families fill it out?
The form is used to determine eligibility for federal grants and loans, as well as certain state and private aid programs. Some colleges provide privately-funded scholarships first to students who meet priority deadlines, with less funding available for later applicants. Some aid programs require separate applications.
What is the schedule for the 2026-27 FAFSA application?
The Department of Education is running the first phase of beta testing this month, with a small number of families invited to submit the earliest applications.
During the second phase of beta testing in September, the agency will allow early access “as needed until testing ends,” the agency said. Not all students who request access will be accepted.
The 2026-27 application is expected to be available to all students on Oct. 1.
Applications for the 2025-26 school year have been open since last November, and they will remain open until June 30, 2026.
Why is the Department of Education testing the online portal?
The agency said it is testing “to ensure our systems are performing as expected.” Two years ago, the application process was plagued by widespread delays and technical glitches. Last year, the process improved after beta testing but some applicants still encountered problems.
Is there anything students can do now to prepare for the FAFSA?
The Department of Education recommends that students create a Studentaid.gov account and gather documents such as tax returns, bank statements and other financial records.
If families get their taxes prepared by a professional who uses software such as TaxAct, the professional might be able to generate an automated report that includes the information needed to fill out the FAFSA, said Susan Quigley, a certified financial planner in Garden City who works with families seeking financial aid.
In addition, the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, the State University of New York and The City University of New York offer information at www.hesc.ny.gov, suny.edu and cuny.edu.
Gov. Kathy Hochul urged students to complete the FAFSA, the state Tuition Assistance Program application and other aid forms as early as possible, saying in a statement that financial assistance “can make college more affordable and achievable.”
Maura McDermott covers education. Since joining Newsday in 2012, she also has worked on the investigations team and covered real estate and the business of health care.
