2026-27 Award Year Packaging Updates

For the 2026-2027 award year, baseline configuration has been updated to support packaging and awarding of all applicable Title IV funds, including the newly published 2026-27 Pell Grant values, as well as sample Non Federal Funds for the upcoming aid year. These updates ensure institutions can administer student aid efficiently and in compliance with the latest Department of Education requirements. Key changes are now reflected across the primary workbooks (FAS_FUND_CONFIG.csv, T4_CRIT.csv, and NFR_ATTRIB.csv), providing a robust foundation for awarding, managing fund eligibility, and adhering to updated regulatory guidance.

Refer to the "Steps to Enable" section below for the specifics of all updates and information about the delivered baseline, as published on Cloud Customer Connect.

Business Value

This feature enables institutions to efficiently and accurately configure, package, and award both Title IV and Non Federal Funds in compliance with the latest regulatory requirements for the 2026-27 award year.

Here's the demo of these capabilities:

Steps to enable and configure

Use the Opt In UI to enable this feature. For instructions, refer to the Optional Uptake of New Features section of this document.

Offering: Student Financial Aid

Update Configuration Scripts:

  • Review baseline configuration for packaging and awarding posted on Cloud Customer Connect, and update your configuration as needed.
    • To get started, ensure that "Configuration Administration" Permission is enabled and download your existing configuration from Oracle Student Financial Aid within Administration > Configuration Administration > Download.
    • This configuration will include the pre-populated system data relevant to the new year, which you can then update as needed.
    •  FAS_FUND_CONFIG.csv
      • Review and update all rows for each Title IV fund  for the new 2026-2027 award year
      • Baseline configuration duplicates all rows for Title IV funds for the new award year with the following values being updated based on published ED specifications.
        • Effective_Start_Date (for all fund types) is set to 1/1/26 but should be updated to the date that you'd like SFA to begin using the new configuration within packaging.
        • Aid_Year (for all fund types) is set to the new award year of 2026-2027.
        • Fund_Close_Out_Date (for all fund types) is set based on the date ED closes COD and should be on or after the awarding close out date configured (that is, 9/30/2027 for Pell and 7/31/2028 for Direct Loans).
        • Pell_Maximum_Regulatory_Amount (for Pell only) is set based on ED’s published maximum Pell amount of 7395.
        • Pell_Minimum_Regulatory_Amount (for Pell only) is set based on ED’s published minimum Pell amount of 740.
        • Awarding_Close_Out_Date (for all fund types) is set based on the date ED closes COD and should be before the fund close out date configured (that is, 9/30/2027 for Pell and 7/31/2028 for Direct Loans).
    • T4_CRIT.csv
      • Review and update awarding criteria row for the new 2026-2027 award year
      • Baseline configuration will duplicate the row for the new award year with the following values being updated based on published ED specifications.
        • Aid_Year (for all fund types) is set to the new award year of 2026-2027.
        • Effective_Start_Date is set to 1/1/26 but should be updated to the date that you'd like SFA to begin awarding your Title IV funds.
    • NFR_ATTRIB.csv
      • Review and update all columns per Non Federal fund and award year (if award year-specific)
      • Baseline configuration should only be used as a possible guide as institutional specific policies must be configured.
      • If eligibility rules remain the same per award year, non federal funds can be duplicated for the new award year with the following values being updated for each specific year.
        • Aid_Year
        • Aid_Year_Close_Out_Date
        • Effective_Start_Date
    • FUND_PRIORITY
      • Review and update columns for any new funds being added or if funding priority is being updated for the new award year.
      • If you are adding funds with a new Fund_Code within FAS_FUND_CONFIG or NFR_ATTRIB, you'll need to add a new row for the fund to FUND_PRIORITY with its applicable Fund_Award_Priority set based on your existing funds.
    • REGULATORY_DEADLINES.csv
      • Review and update the  COD_Origination_Disbursement_Start_Date_TIV_Grants_Loans value to align with the date your institution desires to begin 26/27 COD communication. 
        • A predefined date of July 1, 2026 has been set in baseline
  • Upload your configuration into Student Financial Aid (SFA) 
    • Ensure the "Configuration Administration" Permission is enabled
    • Navigate to Administration > Configuration Administration
    • Upload your zipped configuration

Repackage Students:

  • After successful testing in non production, you will need to load in your updated configuration to production, then repackage your students to adjust their funding as needed.
    • Divide your bulk repackaging operation into manageable groups, taking into consideration processing windows, communication needs, and the availability of supporting resources. This approach will ensure you are well-equipped to assist students whose inquiries arise as a result of the repackaging process.

Tips and considerations

  • Logic Customization Needed: Ensure that institution specific configuration is updated as desired prior to awarding funds for the new award year.
  • Direct Loan Consideration: Institutions should carefully consider when they will be awarding Direct Loans for the 2026-27 award year. This decision depends on whether updates from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) have been implemented, either through manual management or through available automated feature support. Ensure your institution’s processes and configurations reflect your approach to managing OBBB-related changes prior to awarding.
  • Full COA Scholarship and Grant Exclusion: One Big Beautiful Bill provision states students who receive grants or scholarships from non-federal sources covering their entire cost of attendance are ineligible to receive a Pell Grant, even if otherwise eligible for the program. Review the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) - Full COA Scholarship and Grant Exclusion CCC post to understand how you can use the Fund Code priority to ensure scholarships do not exceed a Pell-eligible student's COA. This involves updates to both the FUND_PRIORITY.csv and NFR_ATTRIB.csv. 

Key resources