Students and their families can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid a few weeks early as part of a nationwide beta testing program at the Department of Education.

Last year’s form was late and fraught with errors and contradictory information, so the DOE conducted several rounds of beta testing.

“More than 14,000 students have already submitted 2025–26 FAFSA forms, and we have successfully processed them and sent them to colleges, universities, and state agencies across the country,” said under secretary of education James Kvaal in a news release. “Allowing more students to access the FAFSA form is the final state of beta testing as we prepare to officially launch the form no later than Dec. 1.”

Alabama Possible was one of the organizations selected for early beta testing, and executive director Chandra Scott reported that families could complete the form in about 20 minutes.

“So far, we’re hearing good things back,” Scott said.

The Education Department hasn’t reported significant bugs in processing applications during the beta test.

Even if families don’t participate in the beta test, now is the time to apply for a federal student aid ID. Scott said this takes several days to process.

Those interested in the beta test should go to FAFSA.gov to begin the process.

For more information on the beta testing, go to Federal Student Aid’s beta central site. AL.com prepared an FAQ for those filling out the FAFSA.