The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) prototype is now available. The prototype offers an advance opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the 2026–27 FAFSA user experience ahead of the form’s release.
What is the 2026–27 FAFSA® prototype?
The FAFSA prototype is not a complete replica of the 2026–27 FAFSA form that will be available on fafsa.gov.
Instead, it’s a web-based design tool that allows users to navigate specific scenarios that many 2026–27 applicants will encounter on the live website.
The FAFSA prototype demonstrates the following scenarios:
- Initiating a new application as a student or parent
- Completing an in-progress application as a student, parent, or spouse
- Common corrections scenarios, including voluntary corrections and missing critical data elements or signatures
As you navigate a scenario, the prototype will advise you when particular actions must be taken and alert you that certain functionality is unavailable. The scenarios the prototype covers will not be exhaustive of all possible situations users may encounter while completing an actual 2026–27 FAFSA form.
Limitations of the 2026–27 FAFSA® Prototype
This prototype has limited functionality and may not represent the final FAFSA experience. For example, data cannot be stored or submitted because the prototype doesn’t maintain a database. There are no simulated interfaces with systems internal or external to Federal Student Aid. In addition, while the prototype allows you to enter data and walk through the form, it does not include certain FAFSA functionality, such as a Student Aid Index calculation, field and page edits, or validation of data.
The prototype also includes the following limitations:
- 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’t adjust to the size of the browser window or device.
The FAFSA prototype is not a release of the FAFSA demonstration site. Instead, the prototype can be used as a tool to better understand the experience that applicants may have. Additionally, the 2026–27 FAFSA form itself is still in development, so it may vary slightly from the prototype. Updates to the prototype will be made periodically to reflect changes and updates to the actual FAFSA form.
Accessing the 2026–27 FAFSA® Prototype
To access the 2025–26 FAFSA prototype, follow the steps below:
- Visit fsapartners.ed.gov/fafsa-prototype/2627
Enter the access code: prototype2627
Contact Information and Feedback
If you have questions or feedback about the FAFSA prototype, send an email to FSA_FAFSA_Team@ed.gov.