More than 13.2 million applicants have filled out the 2025-2026 FAFSA so far, plus other financial aid notes from NASFAA’s annual conference.
By Rick Cox and Siobahn Arbogast
At this year’s NASFAA conference, important updates were shared that will influence how institutions and students navigate aid moving forward. From real-time ISIR processing emerging as a top-priority improvement for the 2027–2028 FAFSA to new guidance on supporting those affected by IRS identity theft, this year’s sessions offered valuable insights for the thousands of financial aid professionals attending in Anaheim.
- The 2025-2026 award year is ahead 15 percent from last year and 6 percent from two years ago.
- So far, 13.2 million applicants have completed the FAFSA for 2025-2026.
- Real-time ISIR processing was voted on by the audience as the No.1 fix/update requested to be implemented with the 2027-2028 FAFSA.
- The Technical FAQ & Issue Guide should be used during audits to verify issues and their resolution dates for any affected students an institution may have.
- IRS Identity Theft victims will have new documentation to complete instead of waiting on requested tax forms, which can have up to a six-year turnaround.
- Pseudo SSNs should carry over.
If a user receives two, they should use the newest one, as the Department of Education will be combining all old ones into the new ones. - Reminders were given that unaccompanied homeless youth does not require a Professional Judgment. It merely needs to be flagged after determining the status.
The flags do not carry over yet, but schools do not have to determine status again, just place the flag - The deadline for second chance Pell programs to convert to PEP programs is June 30, 2026.
The program’s title must include the words “Prison Education Program.” - The department is working on bringing some verifications for identity in house so that they will be verifying the identity instead of the burden being placed on the colleges. This process should begin in the fall and should occur while the applicant is in the process of completing the online FAFSA.
- The department is planning to issue new guidance in the near future on data sharing.
- FISAP changes: FISAP total income is considered FTI and should be treated as such. This information is reported in the details for both Part II and Part VI of the FISAP.Rick Cox is Global’s Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance. Siobahn Arbogast is Global’s Director of Title IV Accounting.
July 9, 2025For more information on topics affecting student financial aid, please visit our blog page.
For additional information about NASFAA’s 2025 conference in Anaheim, please visit NASFAA’s conference website.
NASFAA can also be found at https://www.nasfaa.org/