The 2026-2027 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) includes important changes that could affect your financial aid package. Here's what you need to know.
Key Changes
- Simplified form: reduced from 108 to 36 questions
- Student Aid Index (SAI) replaces Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
- SAI can now be negative, qualifying more students for maximum Pell Grants
- Grandparent contributions no longer count against students
- Multi-child household discount expanded
Filing Tips
File early. Many state and institutional grants are first-come, first-served. The FAFSA opened October 1 — if you haven't filed yet, do it this week.
Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It auto-fills tax information and reduces errors that cause processing delays.
Don't skip it. Even if you think your family earns too much, file anyway. Many schools require FAFSA for merit aid, and your eligibility may surprise you.
Common mistake: students assume FAFSA is only for grants. It also determines eligibility for subsidized loans, work-study, and institutional aid.
