FAFSA Changes 2026
Summer came and went so fast! I hope yours was full of good books, later bedtimes, and at least one day where "to-do list" wasn't a phrase anyone used. Now that fall and application season is officially here, there's one topic that can't wait: this year's FAFSA changes. This year brought real shifts to the financial aid landscape, driven by a revamp of FAFSA policies.
Because these changes have a wide-reaching impact, I'm sharing the details below along with a few helpful resources. Even if this doesn't affect you or your student directly, you likely know other families it will impact; please share this blog post with them.
New FAFSA Fraud Screening: What Families Need to Know
On April 26th, the U.S. Department of Education rolled out real-time identity fraud screening for every FAFSA application. As students complete and submit their section, the system automatically assesses fraud risk. Most students will not notice a thing, but a portion of applicants will be flagged as "high risk". Those applicants will be required to verify their identity, including a camera-based check using a smartphone or tablet, before their application can move forward.
If a student is flagged, verification is triggered after they submit their section of the FAFSA and invite parent contributors. ID will be asked for, and there is a limited window to respond. The Department of Education has not specified exactly how long that window is.
Students only get one chance to complete this. If verification is not provided within that time limit, they cannot log back in later or the next day to try again. The student will have to get their identity cleared up individually with each college they are applying to.
Parents can still complete their sections in the meantime. If identity cannot be confirmed online, the FAFSA may be held until it is verified through each school's process.
What counts as valid ID:
• U.S. passport or passport card
• State driver's license (any state, D.C., or U.S. territory)
• State-issued non-driver photo ID
• Certain tribal IDs, military IDs, or permanent resident cards
What does NOT count, even with a name on it:
• Student ID cards
• Temporary driver's licenses
• Store, company, or membership cards
• Library or gym cards
Tools and Resources
The FAFSA is the form that is used by the federal government to award free federal student aid and work-study. This form opens every year after October 1 for the next admissions cycle.
The National College Affordability Group, a professional Association of which I am a member, has announced an expansion of their financial tools available on their website. They range from aid estimators to scholarship search tools to loan payment estimators. They are all free and currently open to anyone. They include a robust Student Aid Index estimator (similar to the government’s FAFSA Forecaster), scholarship search, and student/parent loan planning tools. Visit www.ncagonline.org. Click on TOOLS.
Use my Scholarship Guide to research private, not school-based scholarships.
Some colleges/programs require the CSS Profile, an additional financial aid form to receive scholarships and grants. Visit the site to determine which programs require the document and completion instructions. This form also opens after October 1 for the next year's application cycle.
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