The Department of Education has released an updated version of the NSLDS Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) User Guide, provides instructions and guidance for complying with the FVT/GE reporting requirements via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS®). What has changed? Volume 1 – FVT/GE Student Submittal Reporting. The information in this volume… More »NSLDS Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) User Guide (December 2024 Update) The post NSLDS Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) User Guide (December 2024 Upd ..read more

Service releases for EDExpress for Windows 2024–25 and Windows 2025-26 are now available for download. Both software updates resolve an error in the Application Processing module, where a student’s highest or active ISIR transaction number failed to update properly. This issue specifically affected the Pell Grant modules and caused additional error messages for Windows 2024-25,… More »EDExpress for Windows 2024-25, Release 2.0 and 2025-26, Release 1.0 Now Available The post EDExpress for Windows 2024-25, Release 2.0 and 2025-26, Release 1.0 Now Available first appeared on College Aid Serv ..read more

Financial aid offices can access the 2025-26 FAFSA Paper form through the FAFSA Partner Portal, as the Department of Education begins processing applications; functionality for student corrections will arrive in early 2025. Additionally, FSA has provided guidance for applicants whose ISIRS are impacted by Reject 9, Comment Code 23, or Identity Validation Processing Errors while… More »FSA Begins 2025-26 FAFSA Paper Processing, Addresses Errors with 2024-25 Form The post FSA Begins 2025-26 FAFSA Paper Processing, Addresses Errors with 2024-25 Form first appeared on College Aid Services ..read more

Federal Student Aid has updated the 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide. The volumes contained in this guide contain FAFSA Processing System (FPS) technical and processing information for the 2024–25 award year. Update on November 27, 2024: We updated multiple edits in Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects. Review the Change History Table near the beginning of… More »2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (November 2024 Update) The post 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (November 2024 Update) first appeared on College Aid Services ..read more

Federal Student Aid has released volumes of the 2025-26 FAFSA Specifications Guide. The volumes contained in this guide contain FAFSA Processing System (FPS) technical information for the 2025-26 award year and are only available as PDF documents at this time. Update on November 27, 2024:  We have revised the Excel ISIR record layout in Volume… More »2025–26 FAFSA Specifications Guide (November 2024 Update) The post 2025–26 FAFSA Specifications Guide (November 2024 Update) first appeared on College Aid Services ..read more

Our Team Spotlight for the month of November is David Brod. Joining College Aid Services earlier this year, David combines his advanced data analytics skills and passion for community service as a Project Manager to ensure that our clients are able to better serve their students. His wealth of experience includes strategic initiative development to… More »Team Spotlight: David Brod The post Team Spotlight: David Brod first appeared on College Aid Services ..read more

FSA has opened the event platform for its annual virtual training conference to financial aid administrators, with only a week until the event begins. The virtual platform allows users to build their own schedules for each event, view speaker biographies, and visit the conference’s virtual exhibit hall. The electronic announcement provides detailed instructions for how… More »Now Open: 2024 Virtual FSA Training Conference Event Platform The post Now Open: 2024 Virtual FSA Training Conference Event Platform first appeared on College Aid Services ..read more

Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved H.R. 8932, FAFSA Deadline Act, one week after the House of Representatives passed the measure with overwhelming bipartisan support. The FAFSA Deadline Act requires the application to be available by October 1st and mandates that the Department of Education certify its launch by September 1 or testify before Congress… More »FAFSA Deadline Act Unanimously Passes US Senate, Now Heads to the White House The post FAFSA Deadline Act Unanimously Passes US Senate, Now Heads to the White House first appeared on College Aid Services ..read more

The Department of Education has officially launched the 2025-26 FAFSA application nearly two weeks ahead of the original December 1st deadline. After months of beta testing, the form is available to all students and families via the dedicated FAFSA portal at studentaid.gov. Here is a breakdown of the most important details you need to know:… More »Dept. of Education Launches 2025-26 FAFSA Ahead of Scheduled Release Date The post Dept. of Education Launches 2025-26 FAFSA Ahead of Scheduled Release Date first appeared on College Aid Services ..read more

Updated November 21st The Department of Education continues to beta test the 2025-26 FAFSA with a select group of institutions and students as the December 1 release date approaches. Here is the latest regarding the upcoming application, as detailed on the Updates page: 2025-26 FAFSA Beta Updates Nov. 19: More than 50,000 2025–26 FAFSA Forms… More »2025–26 FAFSA® Beta Testing: The Latest Updates and Ongoing Issues (Nov. 19 Update) The post 2025–26 FAFSA® Beta Testing: The Latest Updates and Ongoing Issues (Nov. 19 Update) first appeared on College Aid Services ..read more