Admission & Aid Paying for College Financial Aid FAFSA & TASFA News Center 2025-2026 FAFSA Updates

2025-2026 FAFSA Updates

The 2025-2026 FAFSA Is Now Available

The Department of Education has announced that the 2025-2026 FAFSA is now available to complete for all student and families.
Submit Your FAFSA

What You'll Need to Fill Out The FAFSA

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1. Your FSA ID

  • An FSA ID is a username used to apply on StudentAid.gov

  • Every contributor (anyone who's required to provide information on the FAFSA) must make their own FSA ID

  • To learn more about which parent is considered a contributor, use the Parent On The FAFSA Tool

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2. Gather Needed Documents

  • 2023 tax records

  • Records of any child support received & current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts

  • Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

  • Information to invite your contributors (Name, SSN, Date of Birth, & Email)

     

     

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3. Request Help If Needed

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Summary of Updates

FAFSA Release Date

The 2025-2026 FAFSA has been officially released as of November 21, 2024. This announcement occured 10 days ahead of the originally scheduled launch date.

Creating an FSA ID and Completing a FAFSA at the Same Time

The Department enabled changes to their system that allows a newly created FSA ID to be used to complete a FAFSA immediately without waiting for validation of the account.

While identity validation must still occur to make FAFSA corrections and to view your studentaid.gov account information, the FAFSA may be completed before that takes place. 

Release of Online Tool: Who Counts As A Parent On the FAFSA?

A new online tool released by the U.S. Department of Education helps determine which parent(s) should participate in a dependent student's FAFSA, by answering a series of dynamic questions.

Who Counts As A Parent On the FAFSA? Tool

Other FAFSA Form Changes

  • Improved help text was added throughout the application.

  • If a student selects "Yes" to have their school determine their eligibility for a "Direct Unsubsidized Loan only", and then selects "Continue", a pop-up window appears warns the student that they will not be eligible for most federal student aid.

  • A new page confirms if a contributor was successfully matched with the IRS to import their federal tax information directly onto the FAFSA.

  • All contributors are no longer required to re-sign if one contributor updates their FAFSA data at a later time. 

  • The label for the question relating to homelessness status changed from "Student Other Circumstances" to "Student Homelessness."

 

Quick Links

Student Resources

 

 SAI and Pell Estimator ToolAlamo Financial Aid SaturdaysAlamo FAFSA School CodesCreating An FSA ID  Filling Out The FAFSA  Checking Your FAFSA Form Status

 

Video Resources
 
Determining FAFSA Contributors

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All Contributors Need An FSA ID

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Providing Consent On The FAFSA

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Advisor and School Counselor Resources

 

 2526 FAFSA Preview Presentation  2526 FAFSA Prototype 

 

Financial Aid Timeline

Dates Events

November 21st 2024

 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2025-2026 officially launched.

December 2024 - May 2025

 

Our Student Financial Aid office will offer hands-on-help to complete the FAFSA or TASFA at our Financial Aid Saturday events.

January 2025

 

Our Student Financial Aid Office will began to process your FAFSA information and update your ACES account with any outstanding requirements.

Spring 2025

Our Student Financial Aid Office will provide you your financial aid award offers for Fall 2025-Spring 2026.

 

 

Additional Help Available

Questions?

If you need further assistance, please contact our Student Financial Aid Office at 210-21ALAMO (210-212-5266).