AI and tech innovation streamlines application process for tens of millions of students applying for federal student aid.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), announced today that it has partnered with the Department of Education to launch the fastest, most user-friendly eligibility system, a component of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) system, to date. The FAFSA form for the 2027-2028 school year officially opened ahead of schedule to students on Sept. 23, 2026, marking the earliest launch in the program’s history for the second year in a row.
The FAFSA form is completed by students and families to determine eligibility for federal grants, work-study programs and low-cost loans. As the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation, the U.S. Department of Education delivers more than $120 billion to help approximately 10 million students pay for higher education. Delivering an on-time, smooth FAFSA experience has been a top priority for the agency, and the streamlined application process provides greater confidence to students and families as they plan for college.
GDIT worked closely with the Department of Education to drive this transformation by leveraging technologies such as agentic AI and AI-assisted software development. The approach accelerated the modernization of the eligibility system, strengthening its reliability and delivering a seamless, faster and more user-friendly process for the millions of students and parents who apply each year.
As a result of these upgrades, receiving student aid eligibility is now quicker, clearer and more user-friendly at every step, driving higher completion rates nationwide. The form now takes about 15 minutes to complete. After submission, most students receive an immediate estimate of their aid eligibility, down from previous processing time of up to three days.
“We deployed the latest AI technologies to help the Department of Education create a more intuitive experience for students and families,” said Jylinda Johnson, GDIT’s senior vice president for the Federal Civilian Division. “The new eligibility system serves as a model for AI-assisted software development that other agencies can adopt to deliver faster, simpler experiences for the citizens they serve.”
This milestone also aligns with GDIT's Vision, Innovation and Acceleration (VIA) strategy, announced earlier this year, which prioritizes investment in new solutions to enhance citizen services and accelerate government modernization across federal agencies.
GDIT is a business unit of General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 120,000 people worldwide and generated $52.6 billion in revenue in 2025. More information about General Dynamics Information Technology is available at www.gdit.com. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.gd.com.
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Oliver Nutt
Oliver.Nutt@gdit.com