Phase One of FAFSA Beta Testing Complete; Phase Two Launched

The Department of Education reported that no critical technical issues or bugs were found during phase one of its beta testing for the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

According to the Department, more than 650 students successfully submitted their FAFSAs and 586 institutions received 6,266 institutional student information records (ISIRs) during this phase. Notably, numerous student corrections to these forms were successfully completed.

For the first beta testing period, the Department sponsored events in six cities – Birmingham, AL, Santa Barbara, CA, Atlanta, GA, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Dallas, TX, and Alexandria, VA – with community-based organizations (CBOs) that help students fill out and complete their FAFSA each year. These CBOs recruited several hundred students to fill out their actual 2025-26 FAFSA under the guidance of CBO and Department staff.

The second beta testing period launched this week with a pool of students that increased into the thousands. Before the December 1 launch of the official form, there will be four total beta periods, each larger than the one previous.

More information on the beta process can be found on the Department’s Beta Central webpage, and more resources are available at the bottom of the announcement.