The 2027-28 FAFSA Is Already Open. Here's How to Get It Done

Families with a student heading to college or trade school next fall can file now. The 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid has been available on StudentAid.gov since late September. The Education Department posted the news in a Sept. 23 announcement, about a week ahead of the traditional Oct. 1 start.

The National News Desk, in a report carried by KATV and other Sinclair stations, said this is the earliest launch ever and the second year in a row the form opened before October. The department says the form takes about 15 minutes on average.

The 2027-28 form covers aid for classes from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028.

Steps to finish

• Start at StudentAid.gov. The form is filed online through the department's student aid site.
• Invite contributors. Parents or a spouse who must provide information can be invited by email or text message.
• List your schools. The schools you add receive your FAFSA information. The form can also show earnings outcomes for schools you are considering.
• Watch for processing. Most forms process right away, but some take one to three days. You can then review your FAFSA Submission Summary.
• No need to refile. Students who filed during the department's early test period do not have to submit again.

Don't wait

Colleges and states set their own priority dates for grants, and some aid is first come, first served. Massachusetts students should check the deadlines for state aid such as MASSGrant with the state Department of Higher Education, and they should also confirm each college's own dates.