# 2027–28 FAFSA Changes: How to Finish Early & Maximize Aid

> Learn what changed for the 2027–28 FAFSA and how to submit early to secure your share of first-come, first-served college financial aid.

- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/blog/2027-28-fafsa-changes-early-guide
- Category: Financial Aid
- Author: CollegesRef Editorial
- Published: 2026-11-03
- Updated: 2026-11-04

To complete the 2027–28 FAFSA early and maximize your financial aid, you must submit the application as soon as possible after the portal opens on October 1, 2026. You should establish your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID at least one week before this date to clear the mandatory identity verification process. Maximizing your aid requires reporting your 2025 tax year data accurately and strategically managing your assets before submitting the form.

This timeline is critical for families targeting schools with priority filing deadlines, where state and institutional grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The most common misunderstanding is that families must wait until they are admitted to a college, or even until they finish their current year taxes, before filing. In reality, the FAFSA uses "prior-prior year" tax data, meaning you will use your already completed 2025 tax documents. Delaying your submission while waiting for an admission letter can cause you to miss out on thousands of dollars in non-repayable state aid.

## Key takeaways

- Establish your FSA ID at least one week before the October 1, 2026 portal opening to clear mandatory real-time identity verification.
- Dependent undergraduates can borrow at most $27,000 over four years, with annual limits starting at $5,500 according to studentaid.gov.
- Parent PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 face a strict annual borrowing cap of $20,000 per student.
- CollegesRef data shows public colleges have a median average net price of $14,830, compared to $27,714 for private nonprofit institutions.
- Minimize your Student Aid Index by keeping assets in a parent's name, where they are assessed at a lower rate than student savings.

## New Rules and System Updates for the 2027–28 FAFSA Cycle

### The Return to the Standard October 1 Release Date
The 2027–28 FAFSA cycle marks a return to the established, statutory timeline. The application portal opens on October 1, 2026, ending the rolling delays that disrupted previous filing periods. This standardized launch date gives families a predictable window to complete the form before state and institutional deadlines begin to close.

Filing early remains a critical step for securing aid from programs with limited funding pools. To prepare, families should check their target universities' financial aid websites to identify the exact priority filing dates. Asking an aid office if they award institutional grants on a first-come, first-served basis can help determine how quickly the form must be submitted.

### Mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication and Identity Verification
The U.S. Department of Education enforces strict security protocols to protect sensitive personal and financial information. Every contributor, which includes the student, biological or adoptive parents, stepparents, or spouses, must establish an individual FSA ID to access the form.

A key update for this cycle is the requirement for real-time identity verification. The Federal Student Aid system now verifies contributor identities through the Social Security Administration before allowing access to the financial sections of the application.

To prevent administrative delays, contributors must create their FSA IDs at least one week before starting the online form. This buffer allows the system to complete the verification process, which typically takes up to three business days.

When setting up the account on the Federal Student Aid website, contributors must configure multi-factor authentication using an authenticator app, a mobile phone number, or an email address. You will need your Social Security number, legal name, and date of birth exactly as they appear on your Social Security card to complete this process.

### State-Level Transparency Mandates and California AB 2027
State laws are changing how colleges communicate financial aid offers to prospective students. Under California Assembly Bill No. 2027, postsecondary institutions in California must provide standardized, itemized financial aid disclosures. This legislative mandate aims to eliminate confusing terminology and hidden costs, allowing families to make direct comparisons between financial aid packages.

When evaluating financial aid offers from [California colleges](https://www.collegesref.com/colleges/state/california), families can use these standardized disclosures to identify the exact split between gift aid, such as grants and scholarships, and self-help aid, which includes student loans and work-study.

To calculate your true out-of-pocket cost for any institution, locate the "Total Cost of Attendance" line on your financial aid offer. Subtract the total amount of grants and scholarships listed. The resulting figure is the net price you must pay using savings, income, or loans.

This state-level transparency makes it easier to spot when a college packages Parent PLUS loans to make an offer look more generous than it actually is. Families should look for the specific line item labeled "Net Cost" or "Remaining Balance" to understand their actual financial obligation before signing any loan agreements.

## A Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing and Submitting Your Application

Filing early represents the single most effective way to secure first-come, first-served aid. Use this chronological roadmap to prepare your application.

### Step 1: Establish FSA IDs for All Contributors Early
A contributor includes anyone required to provide information on your FAFSA. Visit the [official Federal Student Aid portal](https://studentaid.gov) to create your accounts. Complete this step at least one week before the October 1 launch. Because Social Security Administration identity verification can take up to three business days, preparing verified FSA IDs on day one prevents system lockouts.

If a parent contributor does not have a Social Security number, they must still complete the identity verification process. This process requires answering credit-history questions or submitting an Attestation and Identity Verification form along with scanned documents like a foreign passport or utility bill.

### Step 2: Gather 2025 Tax Records and Asset Documents
The 2027–28 FAFSA relies on "prior-prior year" financial data. For this application cycle, you must use financial records from the 2025 tax year.

The FAFSA automatically retrieves federal tax information using the IRS Future Act Direct Data Exchange. However, you should keep physical copies of your 2025 W-2s and Schedule 1, 2, and 3 forms from your Form 1040 on hand to manually verify automated entries.

You must report the cash value of checking and savings accounts, non-retirement investment accounts, and the net worth of businesses or investment farms. The system records these values as of the exact day you sign the FAFSA. Gather your bank statements and brokerage summaries from the week you plan to submit to ensure your reported figures match your actual balances.

### Step 3: Build Your College List and Compare Institutional Costs
The online FAFSA allows you to list up to 20 colleges. You do not need to wait for an admission decision to add a school to your list.

To find institutions that align with your academic goals and budget, use the [CollegesRef College Search Tool](https://www.collegesref.com/blog) to compare graduation rates, average net prices, and institutional aid policies.

As you build your list, consider how different college sectors affect your bottom line. As shown in the table below, the median average net price after grants at private nonprofit colleges is $27,714, compared to $14,830 at public colleges. While private nonprofit institutions have a higher median graduation rate of 71%, families must weigh this academic benefit against a median in-state tuition of $49,678.

Before finalizing your list, contact the financial aid offices at your target schools. Ask if they require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA, as this secondary form has its own deadlines and asset reporting rules.

### Step 4: Avoid the Signature Trap and Consent Bottlenecks
A common error that delays FAFSA processing for weeks is the missing signature, which often happens when contributors do not complete their individual sections. The online FAFSA is a multi-user document. The student starts the form, invites their contributors, and fills out the student section.

However, the application is not complete until every contributor logs in with their own FSA ID, completes their specific section, and signs the form. If a parent simply closes the browser window without clicking the final submit button in their portal, the FAFSA remains in a "draft" status. The student receives an email notification, but the financial aid offices at the listed colleges cannot view or process the data.

Another critical hurdle is the mandatory consent for the IRS Future Act Direct Data Exchange. Every contributor must actively grant consent to have their federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS. If even one contributor refuses to grant consent, the student becomes ineligible for federal student aid, including Pell Grants and federal student loans.

This rule applies even if the contributor has no taxable income or did not file a 2025 tax return. If your parents are divorced or separated, the contributor parent is the one who provided more financial support to the student during the past 12 months. If that parent remarried, the stepparent is also a contributor and must grant IRS consent.

To avoid these bottlenecks, schedule a specific evening where all contributors sit down together at one computer. Log in as the student first, complete the student section, and sign it.

Next, have the parent contributor log in immediately using their own FSA ID on the same device or a separate one. Ensure they accept the IRS data transfer consent, verify the imported tax information, and click the final signature button.

Once all signatures are captured, log back into the student dashboard at studentaid.gov to verify that the application status has changed from "draft" or "in progress" to "submitted" or "in review". Print the confirmation page that displays your submission date and time. This page serves as your proof of meeting tight state and institutional priority deadlines.

| Sector | Colleges | Median net price | Median in-state tuition | Median out-of-state tuition | Median graduation rate | Median earnings (10 yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 441 | $14,830 | $10,567 | $22,363 | 54% | $59,722 |
| Private nonprofit | 307 | $27,714 | $49,678 | $49,556 | 71% | $70,258 |
| Private for-profit | 14 | $29,944 | $18,558 | $18,558 | 46% | $51,716 |

*Source: CollegesRef analysis of [IPEDS](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/) and [College Scorecard](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/) data for 762 published U.S. colleges with at least 2,000 students (latest data year 2025). Net price is the average paid by first-time, full-time students who receive grant aid.*

## Understanding Federal Student Loan Limits and Grant Caps for 2027–28

### Pell Grant Maximums and Eligibility Criteria

The Federal Pell Grant serves as the foundation of need-based federal aid because it does not require repayment. For the 2026–27 award year, the maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395 according to [studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell). The Department of Education determines individual award amounts using the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculated from the FAFSA.

Families can estimate their eligibility before filing by checking line 11 of their 2025 IRS Form 1040 to find their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). They can then compare this figure against the federal poverty guidelines for their household size. If a student qualifies for the maximum award, the college financial aid office automatically applies these funds directly to the institutional bill. This transaction appears on the financial aid offer letter as a credit against tuition and fees. To track historical award adjustments or research additional state-level grants, families can consult the [Financial Aid & Scholarships](https://www.collegesref.com/blog?category=financial-aid) resources on CollegesRef.

### Direct Loan Limits for Dependent and Independent Undergraduates

When grants do not cover the full cost of attendance, federal student loans fill the remaining gap. The U.S. Department of Education limits how much an undergraduate can borrow each year through the Direct Loan program. These caps depend on whether the student is classified as dependent or independent.

According to [studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized), annual limits for dependent undergraduates are structured as follows:
* **First Year:** $5,500
* **Second Year:** $6,500
* **Third Year and Beyond:** $7,500

Over four years, a dependent student can borrow at most $27,000. The absolute aggregate limit for dependent undergraduates is $31,000, and no more than $23,000 of this total may consist of subsidized loans.

Independent undergraduates, who do not have access to parental financial support, have higher annual borrowing limits:
* **First Year:** $9,500
* **Second Year:** $10,500
* **Third Year and Beyond:** $12,500

The aggregate limit for independent undergraduate borrowers is $57,500. Students can find their cumulative borrowing history by logging into their studentaid.gov dashboard and downloading their My Aid data file.

### New Caps on Parent PLUS and Graduate Borrowing

Significant regulatory changes restrict federal borrowing options for parents and graduate students. For loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS borrowing is capped at $20,000 per year and $65,000 in total per dependent student, as detailed on [studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/plus/parent). This cap prevents parents from taking on unlimited federal debt to finance an undergraduate degree.

Furthermore, for new borrowers starting July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS loans are eliminated entirely. Graduate and professional students must rely on Direct Unsubsidized Loans. According to [studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized), graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 annually with a $100,000 aggregate limit. Professional students, such as those in medical or law programs, may borrow up to $50,000 annually with a $200,000 aggregate limit. If these federal limits do not cover the cost of attendance, families must ask the college financial aid office about institutional payment plans or seek private financing.

## How College Sectors Impact Your Out-of-Pocket Costs

### Comparing Net Prices Across Public and Private Institutions
Sticker prices rarely reflect what a family actually pays for a college degree. To understand your true financial obligation, you must look at the average net price after accounting for grants and scholarships. CollegesRef data from IPEDS and the College Scorecard shows a stark divide in these costs across different educational sectors.

For the 441 public colleges in the dataset, the median average net price sits at $14,830. This sector offers a lower-cost entry point, with a median in-state tuition of $10,567 compared to a median [out-of-state tuition](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/in-state-vs-out-of-state-college-is-leaving-home-worth-the-cost) of $22,363.

Private nonprofit colleges present a different financial profile. While the median in-state tuition at these 307 institutions is $49,678, the median average net price after grants is $27,714. This gap reveals that private nonprofit schools often deploy significant institutional aid to discount their high list prices.

Private for-profit colleges present the highest net cost. The 14 for-profit institutions in the dataset have a median average net price of $29,944, despite a lower median tuition of $18,558 for both in-state and out-of-state students. This indicates that for-profit schools offer far less grant aid to offset their costs.

### Analyzing Graduation Rates and Long-Term Earnings by Sector
Lower upfront costs do not always translate to a better financial outcome if a student fails to graduate or struggles to find a high-paying job. Families must weigh the net price against graduation rates and median earnings ten years after enrollment.

Private nonprofit colleges lead in completion rates. CollegesRef data shows these institutions have a median graduation rate of 71%, and their graduates achieve median earnings of $70,258 ten years after entering college.

Public colleges show a median graduation rate of 54%. Ten years after entry, former students from these public institutions earn median wages of $59,722.

Private for-profit colleges lag in both metrics. They have a median graduation rate of 46%, and their former students earn median wages of $51,716 ten years after entry.

Across all 762 published U.S. colleges on CollegesRef with at least 2,000 students, the median graduation rate is 61%, the median average net price is $18,177, and the median earnings ten years after entry are $63,391.

### How to Use CollegesRef Data to Find Generous Financial Aid
To find the most cost-effective options, families should calculate the net price of each target school instead of relying on published tuition rates. You can do this by requesting the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet or College Financing Plan directly from the financial aid office of any prospective school.

When comparing these offers, look at the percentage of students receiving federal assistance. Across all 762 colleges on CollegesRef with at least 2,000 students, the median share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants is 34%.

If a school has a high Pell Grant percentage but a low graduation rate, ask the financial aid office: "What is the average retention rate for students who receive need-based institutional grants?" A low retention rate may indicate that the school does not provide enough support to keep students enrolled until graduation.

## Strategic Asset Planning to Legally Lower Your Student Aid Index

### How the FAFSA Assesses Cash, Savings, and Investments
The Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation relies heavily on the net worth of reportable assets held on the day the student signs the FAFSA. For parents of dependent students, the formula assesses reportable assets at a progressive rate after applying an asset protection allowance. For independent students, the assessment rate is higher.

Families must report the balance of checking and savings accounts, plus the net worth of investment real estate, brokerage accounts, and certificates of deposit. This information is entered directly into the asset questions on the FAFSA, which correspond to the net worth fields in the parent and student financial sections of the online portal.

Every dollar sitting in a student's savings account is assessed at a flat rate of 20 percent, which reduces eligibility far more than assets held in a parent's name.

### Timing Your Asset Reporting and Paying Down Debt
Because the FAFSA is a snapshot of financial holdings on the exact day of submission, families can legally lower their reportable assets by timing their filing. A family should pay necessary, major expenses before signing the form.

Using cash from a checking account to pay off high-interest credit cards, auto loans, or a home mortgage immediately reduces reportable liquid assets. The FAFSA does not factor consumer debt into its formula, meaning $10,000 in savings offset by $10,000 in credit card debt still counts as $10,000 in assets. Paying off that debt first reduces reportable cash to zero.

Families can also make planned purchases early, such as buying a vehicle or paying for home repairs, to lower their bank balances before submitting the application.

### Exempt Assets That Do Not Hurt Your Aid Eligibility
The federal aid formula completely excludes several major asset categories from the SAI calculation. Applicants do not report the equity in a primary residence, the value of life insurance policies, or balances in qualified retirement accounts like a 401(k), 403(b), or traditional and Roth IRAs.

Families can maximize their aid eligibility by maximizing their contributions to these retirement accounts in the years leading up to college.

To verify how a specific college treats these exempt assets, contact the financial aid office and ask if they use the CSS Profile. While the FAFSA ignores primary home equity, private institutions using the CSS Profile often factor home equity into their institutional aid calculations.

Additionally, families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) below certain thresholds on their IRS Form 1040 may qualify for the simplified financial determination, which bypasses the asset reporting section of the FAFSA entirely.

### Avoiding the 529 Plan Ownership Trap
A common mistake involves misreporting the ownership of 529 college savings plans, which can artificially inflate a student's Student Aid Index. The Federal Student Aid handbook dictates that a 529 plan must be reported as a parent asset if the account owner is the student or a dependent student's parent. If a grandparent, aunt, or other relative owns the 529 account, the asset is completely excluded from the FAFSA.

Families often incorrectly list grandparent-owned accounts in the student asset section. This error is costly because student assets are assessed at a much higher flat rate than parent assets. For example, a $25,000 grandparent-owned 529 plan mistakenly reported as a student asset increases the SAI by $5,000, while reporting it correctly as zero has no immediate impact on federal aid eligibility.

Under current federal guidelines, distributions from grandparent-owned 529 plans no longer count as untaxed income to the student on subsequent FAFSA applications. This policy allows relatives to pay tuition bills directly to the bursar's office without reducing the student's eligibility for need-based aid in future years.

When completing the FAFSA, the applicant must only report 529 plans owned by the student or the parents who are contributors on the form. If the student is independent, any 529 plan owned by the student is reported as a student asset.

To prevent errors, review the account statement from the state 529 administrator to verify the designated account owner before filling out the asset section. If a parent owns multiple 529 accounts for different children, the total value of all accounts must be reported on the FAFSA of any dependent child. The parent must sum the values of Sofia's account and her younger sibling's account when completing Sofia's application.

Double-check the owner designation on the state's plan portal to ensure no one inadvertently transfers a grandparent's asset onto the federal form.

## Three Real-World Scenarios: How Families Maximize Aid and Manage Debt

### A first-generation student comparing two in-state offers
This scenario uses hypothetical household figures to show how a student evaluates public and private options. Maya is a dependent student from California with a family income of $38,000, making her eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant of $7,395 according to studentaid.gov. She received admission offers from a public university and a private nonprofit college.

First, Maya created her FSA ID in September to ensure her identity was verified before the October 1 launch. Next, she submitted her FAFSA on October 3 to meet early state priority deadlines. Under California Assembly Bill No. 2027, both institutions provided her with standardized, itemized financial aid disclosures.

Maya compared the offers against CollegesRef data, which shows a median average net price of $14,830 for public colleges and $27,714 for private nonprofit colleges. The public university offered her a package that covered the median in-state tuition of $10,567 using her Pell Grant and state grants, leaving her with no tuition balance. The private nonprofit college offered a generous merit scholarship, but still left an out-of-pocket gap of $12,000 above their median net price. Maya chose the public university. By doing so, she avoided taking out any of the $5,500 first-year federal student loans allowed under studentaid.gov guidelines.

### An independent student managing strict federal borrowing caps
This scenario uses hypothetical household figures to illustrate how an independent student plans for a four-year degree. Marcus is a 25-year-old returning student with an annual income of $22,000. He applied to a local public college where the median in-state tuition is $10,567 according to CollegesRef data.

First, Marcus confirmed his independent status on the FAFSA, which meant he did not need to invite parent contributors. Next, he checked the federal borrowing limits on studentaid.gov. As an independent first-year undergraduate, his annual Direct Loan limit is $9,500. He calculated that his tuition and living expenses would exceed his Pell Grant and part-time earnings by $8,000.

Marcus decided to borrow $8,000 of his allowed $9,500 allotment for his first year. He mapped out his remaining three years of enrollment, knowing that independent limits rise to $10,500 in the second year and $12,500 in the third year and beyond. He chose to attend the public college because its lower net price allowed him to stay well under the aggregate independent borrowing limit of $57,500.

### A middle-income family reducing assets to qualify for institutional aid
This scenario uses hypothetical household figures to demonstrate strategic asset planning. The Miller family has a household income of $115,000 and held $28,000 in a liquid savings account. Their daughter, Chloe, applied to several private nonprofit colleges, which have a median average net price of $27,714 according to CollegesRef data.

First, the Millers reviewed the FAFSA asset-reporting rules, which assess the net worth of non-retirement cash on the exact day the application is signed. Next, they used $20,000 of their savings to pay off an outstanding car loan and prepay their property taxes before submitting the form on October 5. This move legally reduced their reportable cash asset balance from $28,000 to $8,000.

This strategic reduction lowered their Student Aid Index, helping Chloe secure an additional $3,000 in need-based institutional aid. To cover the remaining balance, her parents utilized a Parent PLUS loan, keeping their first-year borrowing well below the federal cap of $20,000 per year established on studentaid.gov.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who counts as a contributor on the 2027–28 FAFSA?
A contributor is anyone required to provide financial information, sign the form, and consent to the direct transfer of federal tax data. This includes the student, a biological or adoptive parent, a stepparent, or a spouse. It does not include grandparents, foster parents, or legal guardians, even if they raised the student. If a parent is remarried, the stepparent must also contribute their financial details.

### What should I do if my contributor does not have a Social Security Number?
Contributors without a Social Security Number can still create an FSA ID and sign the FAFSA online. During the registration process on studentaid.gov, they must select the box indicating they do not have an SSN. The system will then generate a series of identity-verification questions using credit bureau data. If this automated verification fails, the contributor must submit alternative documentation, such as a foreign passport or a utility bill, directly to the Federal Student Aid office.

### Can I still get financial aid if I miss the priority deadline?
Yes, you can still receive federal student aid, but you will likely miss out on limited state and institutional funds. Federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans remain available to eligible students who apply after priority deadlines, up until the final federal filing cutoff. However, state grants and school-specific scholarships operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Missing these early targets often means you must cover a larger share of the college bills yourself.

### How do the new Parent PLUS borrowing caps affect my family's college budget?
For loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS borrowing is capped at $20,000 per year and $65,000 in total per dependent student, according to studentaid.gov. This cap prevents families from over-borrowing but may leave a funding gap if you choose high-cost institutions. If your financial aid package leaves an unpaid balance beyond this $20,000 annual limit, you must cover the difference using private loans, personal savings, or institutional payment plans.

### Why does the 2027–28 FAFSA require my 2025 tax information instead of 2026?
The FAFSA uses "prior-prior year" tax data so families can complete the application as soon as the portal opens on October 1. By using 2025 tax information, you do not have to wait for your 2026 taxes to be filed and processed. This system allows the IRS Future Act Direct Data Exchange to retrieve your completed, verified tax returns automatically. It eliminates the need to estimate income figures or update the application later.

### How do I appeal a financial aid package if my family's income has dropped?
You must contact the financial aid office at each individual college to request a professional judgment review. The FAFSA itself cannot be updated online to reflect a recent job loss, medical expenses, or a reduction in pay. You must submit a formal appeal letter directly to the financial aid administrators, accompanied by third-party documentation. This documentation should include recent lay-off notices, termination letters, or current year-to-date paystubs.

## Related CollegesRef guides

- [CSS Profile 2027–28: Deadlines, Fees, and Fee Waivers](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/css-profile-2027-28-deadlines-fees-and-fee-waivers)
- [Most Affordable Private Colleges by Net Price (2026)](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/most-affordable-private-colleges-by-net-price)
- [Public Universities With the Lowest Out-of-State Tuition (2026)](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/public-universities-with-the-lowest-out-of-state-tuition)

## Sources

- [National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/)
- [U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/)
- [studentaid.gov: Pell](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell)
- [studentaid.gov: Subsidized Unsubsidized](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized)
- [studentaid.gov: Parent](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/plus/parent)
- [official Federal Student Aid portal](https://studentaid.gov)

*Editorial note: CollegesRef publishes research guidance, not individualized financial, legal, or admissions advice. College figures come from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data imported into CollegesRef. Federal aid amounts can change each award year, so confirm them on studentaid.gov before acting.*

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/blog/2027-28-fafsa-changes-early-guide. When citing a figure, include the data year stated next to it.