FSA has updated Volume 4A and the Excel version of the ISIR record layout. For complete information, review the Change History Table in each volume and the “Changes” column in the Excel file.
Important Note:
The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) makes numerous amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), some of which became effective upon enactment of OBBBA while others will become effective on July 1, 2026, and beyond.
To ensure that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) can implement those provisions that are effective now or will become effective on July 1, 2026, ED is drafting presentations and documents in advance of publication of a final rule on these topics. These presentations and documents are intended to ensure that vendors, servicers, partners and stakeholders have the requisite time to prepare for the implementation of the OBBBA.
However, the information is subject to change depending upon ED’s rulemaking process. ED has not prejudged the outcome of that negotiated rulemaking process. This information provides a structure for vendors, servicers, partners and stakeholders to begin building these systems, but it does not impair, prevent, or control policy decisions that may be made by ED. The information is preliminary, and ED, including its vendors and servicers, will not launch any new systems or make final system changes that are public facing until ED publishes a final rule on these topics. ED will provide additional information if any changes are made during the rulemaking process.
Federal Student Aid has released volumes of the 2026-27 FAFSA Specifications Guide. The volumes contained in this guide contain FAFSA Processing System (FPS) technical information for the 2026-27 award year and are only available as PDF documents at this time.
View the latest specification guide here.
2026–27 FAFSA Specifications Guide
SOURCE: 2026–27 FAFSA Specifications Guide (February 2026 Update)