FAFSA 2027-28 Opens Early with Simplified Form

The 2027-28 FAFSA is now open, offering students early access to financial aid for the fall 2027 through summer 2028 semesters. The U.S. Department of Education released the form on September 29, 2026, ahead of the traditional October 1 launch, and it will remain open through June 2028.

Simplified FAFSA reduces completion time and barriers

The updated FAFSA can be completed in under 15 minutes. Many families are expected to finish in under 12 minutes due to a series of streamlined features. These include automatic transfer of tax information and reusable parent information for families with multiple college applicants. Returning students will find some information pre-filled. A simple contributor invitation process allows a student to send a code to a parent or other contributor to complete their portion separately.

Early filing increases access to limited aid including scholarships

Filing the FAFSA early ensures priority consideration for several types of financial aid. Much of this aid, including scholarships and grants, is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as funds are limited. East Tennessee State University confirmed its General Scholarships are allocated using this method. Catherine Morgan urged students, "Don’t miss out on funding opportunities that can save thousands of dollars."

Students must choose between FAFSA and WASFA for state aid in Washington

In Washington, applicants have two pathways to apply for state financial aid. They must choose to submit either the federal FAFSA or the state-specific WASFA, but not both, to avoid duplication.

Financial aid supports diverse education paths and goes unclaimed when forms are skipped

Financial aid can fund community college, four-year degrees, eligible certificate programs, or approved apprenticeships. Despite this, misconceptions cause many eligible families to skip applying. For the 2026-27 year, a family of four in Washington making up to $139,500 could qualify for aid, with the threshold expected to be even higher for 2027-28. Only 25% of families know the FAFSA opens in the fall. More than a quarter skipped it last year, often believing their income was too high or because they lacked information. This leaves critical aid, including millions in scholarships and billions in Pell grants, unclaimed. Sierra Arguello advised, "It is better to do so the soonest you’re able to."

The applications are key for this year’s graduating seniors. Students planning to attend East Tennessee State University must include the school code 003487 on their FAFSA to ensure the institution receives their information.