College students can now start the free financial aid process to apply for loans and grants offered by the government to reduce out-of-pocket college costs for the next academic year.
The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, became available Nov. 21, with a shorter, improved and mostly error-free process after a delayed and glitchy rollout last year that affected thousands of students, resulting in a decline in submitted aid applications and rushed college acceptances.
After last year's FAFSA debacle, the federal government changed tack and conducted beta testing with feedback from families and colleges, resulting in 167,000 successful applications since Oct. 1, it announced last week.
A cohort of Newark Public Schools students participated in the beta testing and filed FAFSAs in mid-November in an effort coordinated with the school district and the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
This year's application form is available online and on paper.
"I'm pleased to announce that after four successful rounds of beta testing, the 2025-26 FAFSA form is now available to all students and families," U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
"After months of hard work and lots of feedback from students, schools, and other stakeholders, we can say with confidence that FAFSA is working and will serve as the gateway to college access and affordability to millions of students," Cardona said.
The FAFSA is a critical tool for any student headed to college next year, because it unlocks access to federal aid programs such as grants, work-study and student loans. High school and college counselors are already informing parents and students of its availability and urging them to fill it out as early as possible.
High schoolers graduating in 2025, 2026 or 2027 are required to fill out and submit the FAFSA, or be exempted from the law with a waiver signed by their guardians, after a law signed early this year by Gov. Phil Murphy mandating the applications as a prerequisite to receiving a diploma.
A June memo from the state reminded school districts about the law, which also requires the state's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, HESAA, to issue an annual report on how many students applied for aid and how many were exempted.
The state is also offering data-sharing agreements and other assistance to high school staff to help track and assist seniors in submitting the aid form to comply with the law.
"Completing a financial aid application is the only way to access any federal or state aid a person is eligible to receive, which is why I strongly encourage all current and prospective college students to begin filling out the FAFSA now that the academic year 2025-2026 form is available," said HESAA Executive Director Margo Chaly.
To date, the agency has recorded more than 11,840 FAFSAs submitted in New Jersey.
Further information and assistance for New Jersey students filling out the form is available through HESAA at hesaa.org/Pages/financialaidhub.aspx. The agency provides free webinars, in-person workshops at community sites such as schools, and written resources.
New Jersey student applicants can contact customer support at 609-584-4480 and CustomerCare@hesaa.org.
More staff dedicated to answering FAFSA queries The federal government has also increased staffing at the Federal Student Aid Information Center by adding more than 700 agents since January and an additional 225 agents over the next few weeks, expecting a surge in calls, it said, including weeknight and Saturday hours dedicated to FAFSA.
The expanded hours will extend through March 2, 2025. Phone numbers and exact details are available on StudentAid.gov. The Department of Education also has call centers; the phone number to call is 800-433-3243. There are live chat and email options, according to the Government Accountability Office.
The technology and product review website CNET.com noted last year's FAFSA errors, but It encouraged this year's applicants to take the revised form seriously and fill it out early and in one sitting.
It recommended that families and students be prepared with the following documents before filling out the form: - Tax returns from two years prior.
- Current bank balances.
- Net worth numbers reflecting investments, businesses and farms.
Child support records.
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