2026-2027 FAFSA Updates

All users with a Social Security number (SSN) who create a StudentAid.gov account will immediately have their accounts verified with the Social Security Administration and will no longer be subject to the current one-to-three day waiting period. If the SSN cannot be validated, the user will be prompted to update their information. 

Users without a SSN may also have their account immediately verified by answering knowledge based identity questions.

Students will now be able to invite a parent or spouse as a contributor by entering that user's email address instead of needing to submit their personally identifiable information. 

The parent or spouse will receive a non-case sensitive code through email and will be directed to enter it on the linked “Accept an Invite” webpage.

• Removal of Manual Contributor Entry: To help reduce errors and missing signatures, students can no longer manually enter a contributor's information. All contributors must be invited.
• Estimated Pell Grant for Provisionally Independent Students and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Functionality has been added to provide estimated Pell amounts for students with a provisional independent status and unaccompanied homeless youth without a determination. Once their status is confirmed, both students and FAAs will be able to view these estimates.
• Pell Eligibility: A student is not eligible for the Pell Grant if their SAI exceeds twice the maximum Pell Grant amount; or the amount of their nonfederal grants and scholarships cover their entire Cost of Attendance (COA) even if otherwise eligible.
• Parent Plus Changes: New parent borrowers requesting parent plus loans on or after July 1, 2026 will now have an annual loan limit of $20,000 per dependent student; with an aggregate loan limit of $65,000 per dependent student. Legacy borrowers may borrow at previous loan limits for the shorter of, 3 academic years; or time for student to complete program.

• SAI and Pell Estimator Tool - Provides an estimate of how much federal student aid a student may be eligible to receive.
• Alamo FAFSA School Codes - View the list of Alamo Colleges' school codes to ensure the Student Financial Aid Office receives your FAFSA.
• Filling Out The FAFSA - Tips to help you fill out the FAFSA.
• Checking Your FAFSA Form Status - Tips on checking and understanding the status of your form on Studentaid.gov.
• FAFSA Preview Presentation - Provides screenshots that financial aid professionals, mentors, and counselors can use as a guide for the FAFSA.