High school students preparing for college next fall can now apply for federal financial aid using the government’s updated application form, which education officials said marks the earliest launch in history and the most streamlined version to date.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced Sept. 24 that the 2026–2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now online, a week ahead of its congressionally mandated Oct. 1 deadline. Each year, millions of students across the nation use the form to apply for federal loans, work-study opportunities, and grants.
