Does FAFSA roll over each year or need to fill out new form for 2025-26?

Yes, you need to complete a new FAFSA for each academic year. The 2024-2025 FAFSA covers Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and potentially Summer 2025 (depending on your school's specific policy - some count Summer as part of the previous year, others as part of the upcoming year). The 2025-2026 FAFSA application should open on October 1, 2024, and I'd recommend completing it as early as possible since some aid is first-come, first-served. While some of your information will pre-populate if you use the same FSA ID, you'll still need to update income information and resubmit the entire application. FAFSA is never automatic - you must submit a new application every year your son attends college.

i did my daughters fafsa like 3 times now lol. gotta do it EVERY yr, nothing rolls over except maybe ur basic info but u still gotta update all the tax stuff and household size etc. summer classes sometimes count as part of the previous year but call the school to check!! each school does summer different

The FAFSA must be submitted annually. Each application covers one academic year only: - 2024-2025 FAFSA: Fall 2024, Spring 2025 (Summer 2025 varies by institution) - 2025-2026 FAFSA: Fall 2025, Spring 2026 (Summer 2026 varies by institution) The application for 2025-2026 will open October 1, 2024. While the process uses the same FSA ID and some information transfers, you must submit a new application with updated financial information each year. Critical note: Many schools have priority deadlines much earlier than the federal deadline. Missing these priority deadlines can significantly reduce aid eligibility, especially for institutional grants and scholarships. I recommend checking your son's specific school for their priority FAFSA submission date for 2025-2026.

Everyone here is right that you need a new FAFSA every year, but just wanted to add that they COMPLETELY REDESIGNED the FAFSA for 2024-2025!! It's all different from previous years, and they've been having TONS of technical problems. So when you do the 2025-2026 application, expect it to be different again too. Also, they now calculate your aid using the "Student Aid Index" (SAI) instead of the old EFC formula. The deadline changed too - it used to open Oct 1 but this year it didn't open until December 30th and was a DISASTER with tons of glitches. Hopefully next year will be smoother but I wouldn't count on it!

I was stuck trying to call Federal Student Aid for WEEKS about this exact question last year! The wait times were insane and I kept getting disconnected. Finally, I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual FSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent confirmed what others are saying - you need to submit a completely new FAFSA each academic year. They also helped me understand how summer classes work with financial aid at my son's specific school, which was super helpful since every school handles this differently.

btw some schools have their OWN financial aid forms too besides fafsa!! my daughters school makes us do the CSS profile EVERY year too which is super annoying cuz u gotta pay for it each time smh

To summarize what everyone has shared and add a few important details: 1. Yes, you must complete a new FAFSA for each academic year (no automatic rollovers) 2. The 2024-2025 FAFSA covers Fall 2024 through Spring 2025 3. Summer 2025 coverage varies by institution (some count it with 2024-2025, others with 2025-2026) 4. The 2025-2026 FAFSA should open October 1, 2024 (barring delays like this year) 5. Some information will pre-populate if using the same FSA ID, but you'll need to update financial information 6. Many schools have priority deadlines much earlier than federal deadlines - missing these can significantly reduce aid packages 7. Check if your school requires additional forms like the CSS Profile One last tip: Create a calendar reminder for September 2024 to prepare for the next FAFSA cycle. Be sure to have tax information ready, and all contributors should verify their FSA ID access before the application opens.

Just went through this process with my oldest last year! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - keep digital copies of ALL your tax documents and financial records organized by year. When you're filling out the 2025-2026 FAFSA, you'll need your 2023 tax info (they use prior-prior year taxes), and having everything organized makes the process SO much faster. Also, if your family's financial situation changes significantly (job loss, medical expenses, etc.) after submitting the FAFSA, contact your son's financial aid office directly about "professional judgment" or special circumstances appeals. Many schools can adjust aid packages based on changed circumstances that the FAFSA doesn't capture. Good luck with your first college journey - it gets easier once you know the routine!

As someone who just went through this with my daughter, I can confirm everything others have said - you absolutely need to file a new FAFSA every single year! The confusion is totally understandable though, especially with all the changes they made to the system this year. One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand your son's school's specific summer policy BEFORE he registers for summer classes. Some schools treat summer as part of the previous academic year's aid, others count it toward the next year. This can really impact his aid eligibility and loan limits, so definitely get this clarified with his financial aid office before making summer plans. Also, start gathering your 2023 tax documents now if you haven't already - you'll need them for the 2025-2026 FAFSA when it opens in October. Having everything ready to go makes the process much smoother! The first year is definitely the hardest because everything is new. By next year you'll feel like a pro at this! Hang in there!