Federal Student Aid (FSA) issued several announcements on September 10, 2026, reminding institutions of important processing, reconciliation, closeout, and reporting deadlines approaching at the end of September and beginning of October.
With several key activities occurring within a short period, financial aid offices should review outstanding items now and ensure necessary processing is completed before the applicable deadlines.
2025–26 Pell Grant Processing Deadline: September 30
The final deadline for institutions to electronically transmit Federal Pell Grant records for the 2025–26 award year to the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System is Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
FSA reminds institutions that existing requirements for drawing and returning funds and reporting disbursements supersede the September 30 deadline. Institutions should complete reconciliation activities throughout the year and should be able to reconcile to a zero cash greater than net accepted and posted disbursements (NAPD) balance shortly after making final disbursements. Institutions may also officially confirm closeout through the School Balance Confirmation page in COD.
September 30 is also the final funds availability deadline for the 2020–21 Pell Grant award year. After the deadline, institutions will no longer be able to draw down or adjust additional funds through G5, although refunds of cash will still be accepted. The award year will also no longer be available in COD for additional award or disbursement processing.
Institutions that need extended processing for the 2025–26 award year may begin submitting requests through COD on September 29, 2026. FSA provides specific circumstances and deadlines under which extended processing may be requested, and institutions should review the announcement for those requirements.
Read the Pell Grant 2025–26 Award Year Processing Deadline announcement
2025–26 TEACH Grant Closeout Deadline: September 30
The data submission and closeout deadline for the 2025–26 TEACH Grant award year is Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Institutions should pay particular attention to several processing times on September 30:
- COD must receive and accept all G5 data by 8 a.m. ET.
- Institutions must request drawdowns, drawdown adjustments, and refunds of cash before 3 p.m. ET.
- FSA must receive and accept all institutional data by 9 p.m. ET for it to be included in the institution’s final ending cash balance for the award year.
Institutions should complete final reconciliation activities well before the deadline and ensure that all disbursement data has been reported in accordance with regulatory requirements. Institutions may officially confirm closeout using the School Balance Confirmation page in COD.
FSA also reminds institutions that use third party servicers that the institution remains responsible for ensuring reconciliation and closeout are completed by the deadline.
Read the TEACH Grant Closeout announcement
FISAP Deadline: October 1
The deadline to submit the Fiscal Operations Report for 2025–26 and Application to Participate for 2027–28 (FISAP) is Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Institutions must submit a FISAP if they are requesting Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) or Federal Work Study (FWS) funds for 2027–28 and/or had FSEOG or FWS expenditures or Federal Perkins Loan activity during 2025–26. Institutions that closed during the 2025–26 award year must also submit a final FISAP to report Campus Based expenditures.
The electronic FISAP must be submitted through COD by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 1. The required signature page must also be printed, signed, and mailed by the October 1 deadline.
FSA emphasizes several important reminders for institutions completing the FISAP:
- Saving is not submitting. Institutions must select “Submit” for the FISAP to be officially transmitted.
- Institutions should review validation edits and verify the accuracy of the information reported.
- Institutions should not simply roll forward prior year data to meet the deadline.
Failure to submit a timely and accurate FISAP can have significant consequences, including impacts to current Campus Based funding and eligibility for Campus Based funds for the 2027–28 award year.
Read the FISAP Due October 1, 2026 announcement
Important Processing Reminder: Federal Fiscal Year End
Institutions should also plan for temporary interruptions to Department of Education financial processing associated with the end of the federal fiscal year.
The G5 website will be unavailable from 3 p.m. ET on September 30 through 5 p.m. ET on October 1. During this period, institutions will not be able to draw down Campus Based, Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, or Direct Loan funds.
COD will continue accepting Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, and Direct Loan records. However, after 8 a.m. ET on September 30, COD will not process current funding level changes resulting from actual disbursements or funding until G5 reopens.
Importantly, actual disbursements dated September 30 or October 1 must be received and accepted by COD no later than 8 a.m. ET on September 30 to generate the appropriate funding level increase before the G5 shutdown.
Once G5 reopens, processing will resume, but FSA expects financial processing to be fully caught up by the end of the following week. Institutions should review anticipated funding needs and plan accordingly.
Read the Federal Fiscal Year End Processing announcement
Plan Ahead
With several significant deadlines and processing changes occurring within a short period, institutions should review outstanding reconciliation, reporting, disbursement, closeout, and funds management activities well before September 30.
Financial aid offices should review the complete FSA announcements linked above for all requirements, processing schedules, and instructions applicable to their institution.
Need additional support? College Aid Services assists institutions with federal student aid compliance, reconciliation and closeout, financial aid operations, and technology support. Whether your institution needs help addressing outstanding processing or additional capacity during a busy period, our team is here to help. Contact us today!