Updated

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has opened early for the 2027-28 academic year, allowing college-bound students and their families to begin submitting financial-aid applications. The early opening provides more time for families to complete applications and understand their aid eligibility well ahead of college enrollment deadlines. The timing is intended to help students and families plan their education financing strategies more deliberately. The development follows years of FAFSA processing challenges that delayed aid determinations and created uncertainty for families navigating college costs.