Administrators now have access to the 2025–26 FAFSA® prototype, which is a web-based design tool where users can explore certain aspects of the official application as the Department of Education improves it over time. Although the prototype will will provide a preview, it may differ significantly from the final 2025-26 application and has significant limitations in terms of functionality.
Available Functions
- Initiating a new application as a student or parent
- Completing an in-progress application as a student, parent, or spouse
- In the coming weeks, FSA will be adding common corrections scenarios, including missing critical data elements or signatures, and voluntary corrections
- The prototype will advise users when particular actions must be taken and alert users that certain functionality is unavailable
Prototype Limitations
- Does not maintain a database and data cannot be stored or submitted
- There are no simulated interfaces with systems internal or external to Federal Student Aid
- Does not include certain FAFSA functionality such as a Student Aid Index calculation, field and page edits, or validation of data
- Search and other complex interactions are for display only and are not fully functional.
- Selections with school names or cities use sample content.
- Users may experience slow load times for some pages.
- Accessibility features may not perform as expected.
- Tooltips and other help resources may not be present.
- Dropdown and search suggestions may experience performance issues.
- The prototype does not adjust to the size of the browser window or device.
Accessing the Prototype
- Visit https://fsapartners.ed.gov/fafsa-prototype/2526
- Enter the access code: prototype2526