Overview

• The application is now live nationwide a week ahead of the traditional Oct. 1 date, the earliest launch on record.
• Federal officials cite months of beta testing that showed high user satisfaction and smoother processing.
• New features include email invitations for parent contributors and faster account confirmation to reduce verification delays.
• Policy changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act exclude certain small‑business, family‑farm, and commercial‑fishing net worth from asset calculations for 2026–27.
• Families are encouraged to file early because many state and college awards have earlier or first‑come deadlines, with the federal deadline set for June 30, 2026; Virginia offers a text help desk at 434-478-4003 by texting “uAspire.”