The simplified FAFSA and an earlier opening window drove a sharp uptick in submissions for the Class of 2026: advocates estimate more than one million seniors had filed by late November and NCAN reports a nearly 12% completion increase versus the last smooth rollout. The form’s early October availability and automated FAFSA ID creation cut user friction and shortened completion time dramatically. States and school types vary widely — Illinois, New Jersey and Tennessee lead completion rates — and officials say the surge could set record FAFSA completion for this cohort. The uptick matters for admissions and persistence: timely financial aid processing is linked to higher enrollment and retention.