Education Department officials reported improved performance metrics for the 2026‑27 FAFSA at the NASFAA conference: the form launched earlier than required, call‑center wait times fell, and about 8 million submissions were recorded. FAFSA program director Aaron Lemon‑Strauss said 96% of filers rated the form highly and cited expanded Pell eligibility under recent law. The update follows two turbulent cycles and is aimed at stabilizing federal aid flows and reducing barriers to enrollment and completion.