UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students applying for financial aid for the 2025-26 academic year should stay vigilant about deadlines and necessary action steps, despite the staggered rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Education announced a phased rollout for the 2025-26 FAFSA, with a full release on or before Dec. 1. This approach, informed by feedback from students and institutions, will allow testing with a limited group starting Oct. 1. The phased launch aims to identify and resolve issues, ensuring a smoother experience for all applicants. Regular updates and further details on the testing process will be provided in the coming weeks.
For more information, see the official press release issued by the Department of Education at the beginning of August.
Students who are eager to get their FAFSA in as soon as possible, can take one step now by creating an account on the Federal Student Aid website if they do not already have one. This will be known as the student’s FSA ID. Both the student and at least one parent will need an FSA ID in order to fill out the FAFSA when it becomes available. All students need is an email address and Social Security number.
Penn State suggests that new students complete the 2025-26 FAFSA as soon as possible after the full application rollout. However, it is recommended that currently enrolled students complete the FAFSA by April 15, 2025.
As a reminder, students who have not yet completed the 2024-25 FAFSA are encouraged to do so as soon as possible at the Federal Student Aid website, studentaid.gov.