(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — For a second straight year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been delayed for students and families.
FAFSA is traditionally released on Oct. 1 each year, but the Department of Education has delayed rollout for the second year in a row.
The agency said it will be testing the system in October with a limited number of students, colleges, and universities before rolling out the 2025 – 2026 form to the general public in December.
In 2023, families hoping to fill out the form for the 2024 – 2025 cycle were also forced to deal with similar delays while the department worked to update its technology.
The previous year’s delays prompted some universities, including the University of Illinois-Chicago, to extend the deadline for students to commit and accept admission. The extension was necessary for UIC to determine when it would be able to send its offers of financial aid — a key factor in a student’s decision on where to get higher education.
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