The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms will be released on Oct. 1 this year, the Department of Education announced on Wednesday, hitting the normal deadline after two chaotic years.  

The good news of a normalized schedule comes after the department’s goal to simplify the FAFSA forms caused delays for two cycles.  

Back in 2023, the deadline was missed completely, and forms weren’t released to everyone until the beginning of 2024.  

Once the forms were released, bugs and errors plagued the system, and schools did not receive the financial aid information they needed on time. 

For the 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle, the forms were not released until December, but a smoother rollout has taken place and schools will likely get the information they need to meet their deadlines of sending out offers.  

The department says 94 percent of individuals are satisfied with the submission process this cycle.  

“The Department ensured its contact center had increased capacity for the 2025–26 FAFSA form launch, and wait times continue to be less than one minute on average – a number we expect will remain low,” the department’s report reads.  

Along with the restored timeline, the department said there has been an uptick in eligibility for Federal Pell Grants.  

Almost 14 percent more students will receive Pell Grants this cycle compared to the last.  

According to the department, the majority of all institutions have as many or more individuals receiving federal student aid as last year.