FAFSA transition from graduating senior to incoming freshman - how to setup for Fall 2026?

You need to submit a brand new FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year. The current FAFSA system doesn't allow you to 'transfer' information between years - each year requires a new application. Your graduating daughter won't count for the 2025-2026 form since she's done in May 2025, but your son will. Make sure you're using the simplified FAFSA website that was launched in December 2023, not the legacy system. And no, you don't need to create a new FSA ID for yourself, just one for your son if he doesn't have one already.

FAFSA SUCKS this year!!!!!! I have 3 kids in college and the system kept CRASHING when I tried to add the third one. Called the help line and waited 2.5 HOURS only to get disconnected!!! This new simplified system is WORSE than before. When I finally got through, they told me each student needs their own separate FAFSA now - completely different from previous years. Wasted a WHOLE day of my life.

I ran into this last year with my kids! You need to file a completely new FAFSA for 2025-2026. Your daughter won't be included since she graduates before the academic year starts. Each FAFSA is specific to one academic year, and you have to re-enter everything annual even though it seems redundant. Make sure your son creates his own FSA ID too.

Everyone's giving good advice but missing a key detail - the number of family members in college significantly affects your SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC). With your daughter graduating, your son will be the only one in college, which typically means less aid than when you had two students enrolled simultaneously. This is worth preparing for financially. Make sure to check the "number of family members in college" section carefully when completing the new form.

when my oldest graduated and youngest started we had same problem... the fafsa ppl told me its a completely new application every year. its stupid but thats how they do it. you keep your parent fsa id tho.

I work in a college financial aid office, and this is a super common question! Here's what you need to know: 1. Each academic year requires a completely new FAFSA application 2. You'll use your existing parent FSA ID, but your son needs his own FSA ID 3. For 2025-2026, only your son counts as "in college" since your daughter graduates in May 2025 4. The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 tax information (this often confuses people) 5. You'll need to add all your son's potential schools to his FAFSA One thing to prepare for: your SAI will likely be higher with only one student in college, which could mean less aid. If your financial situation has changed significantly since 2023 (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), contact your son's financial aid office directly about a professional judgment appeal after you receive his aid offer.

my twins just started college this year and i was so confused too!! i tried calling the fafsa number like 20 times and couldnt get through, was about to give up. then i found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at FSA in like 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - the website is claimyr.com - saved me so much stress! the agent explained that each year needs a whole new application but you keep your parent login.

i was so confused with mine too lol. turns out u have to fill it out every year from scratch which is soooo annoying. and ya u need ur 2023 taxes not 2024 which makes no sense??

If you're completing the FAFSA for 2025-2026, you can start the application in December 2024. Remember that many schools have priority deadlines much earlier than the federal deadline, so aim to complete it by February 2025 to maximize aid opportunities. The system will guide you through creating a new application using your existing parent FSA ID.

I just went through this exact same situation last year! The confusion is totally understandable. Here's what worked for me: Yes, you need a completely fresh FAFSA application for 2025-2026 - there's no way to "transfer" or update your daughter's info. Keep your parent FSA ID but make sure your son creates his own student FSA ID before you start. The hardest part for me was mentally preparing for the financial impact - with only one kid in college instead of two, our Expected Family Contribution (now called SAI) basically doubled, so we qualified for way less aid. Start the application as soon as it opens in December and don't wait - some schools have really early deadlines for their institutional aid. The 2023 tax info requirement threw me off too, but once you get started it's actually not too bad. Good luck!