2025-2026 FAFSA Updates

The 2025-2026 FAFSA has been officially released as of November 21, 2024. This announcement occured 10 days ahead of the originally scheduled launch date.

The Department enabled changes to their system that allows a newly created FSA ID to be used to complete a FAFSA immediately without waiting for validation of the account, for contributors without a Social Security Number (SSN).

While identity validation must still occur to make FAFSA corrections and to view your studentaid.gov account information, the FAFSA may be completed before that takes place. 

A new online tool released by the U.S. Department of Education helps determine which parent(s) should participate in a dependent student's FAFSA, by answering a series of dynamic questions.

Who Counts As A Parent On the FAFSA? Tool

• Improved help text was added throughout the application.

• If a student selects "Yes" to have their school determine their eligibility for a "Direct Unsubsidized Loan only", and then selects "Continue", a pop-up window appears warns the student that they will not be eligible for most federal student aid.

• A new page confirms if a contributor was successfully matched with the IRS to import their federal tax information directly onto the FAFSA.

• All contributors are no longer required to re-sign if one contributor updates their FAFSA data at a later time. 

• The label for the question relating to homelessness status changed from "Student Other Circumstances" to "Student Homelessness."

 SAI and Pell Estimator ToolAlamo Financial Aid SaturdaysAlamo FAFSA School CodesCreating An FSA ID  Filling Out The FAFSA  Checking Your FAFSA Form Status

Questions?

If you need further assistance, please contact our Student Financial Aid Office at 210-21ALAMO (210-212-5266).