Federal Student Aid Announces Early FAFSA Access and Enhanced Interest Rate Reduction for Auto Pay

Federal Student Aid has announced that the 2027–28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form will be available by October 1, 2026. Additionally, borrowers enrolled in auto pay will see a larger temporary interest rate reduction, increasing from 0.25% to 1%, effective July 1, 2026. These updates are part of ongoing changes to federal student aid programs under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.