The Campus-Based Programs | 2025-2026 Federal Student Aid Handbook

Introduction

The Campus-Based Programs include the Federal Work-Study Program (FWS), the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG), and the Federal Perkins Loan Program (Perkins Loans). This volume provides the information that schools need to administer those programs.

Throughout the Federal Student Aid Handbook, we use “college,” “school,” and “institution” interchangeably unless a more specific use is given. “You” refers to the primary audience of the Handbook: financial aid administrators at institutions of higher education. “We” indicates the U.S. Department of Education (the Department, ED).

Throughout the year, the Department of Education (The Department) provides updates for schools in the form of Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs). These and other releases, such as Federal Register notices and electronic announcements, contain system updates and technical guidance, and are available on the FSA Partner Connect website (fsapartners.ed.gov).

The FSA Handbook does not cover the operation of software. For schools using software provided by the Department, there are technical references on FSA Partner Connect that explain how the software operates. Schools using third-party software should consult the vendor’s reference materials for technical guidance.

Below, we provide a summary of the significant changes and clarifications presented in greater detail in the chapters that follow. The FSA Handbook text is not the only source of guidance needed to satisfactorily administer the Title IV HEA programs. For more complete guidance, you should also refer to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and the Higher Education Act (HEA) as amended.

Here are some of the significant changes to Volume 6 for 2025-2026:

Updated FISAP process deadline dates
Guidance on the sunsetting of the CARES Act and related COVID national emergency guidance for Campus-Based programs removed (for detail on what provisions were previously in effect, see the 2024-25 and prior editions of the Handbook)
Clarified and expanded guidance on eligibility rules for Title IV aid for citizens of the Freely Associated States, including program types available for each of the Freely Associated States, and provision for in-state tuition
General guidance on overaward tolerance for the Campus-Based programs from Vol. 4
New point of contact listed for questions about Title III and Title V eligibility
The G6 system and website has reverted to the G5 system and website: www.G5.gov

Updated guidance on the ending of the automatic waiver of the FWS community service expenditure requirement which was related to the COVID national emergency, and added link to CB-25-06, which describes the process of applying for a waiver
Guidance on addressing overawards in FWS wages was moved into Chapter 2 from Volume 4
Removed sunsetting of CARES Act FWS flexibilities guidance (for detail on what provisions were previously in effect, see the 2024-25 and prior editions of the FSA Handbook)
Expanded and updated guidance on reporting FWS wages

Clarified guidance on calculating Perkins distribution of assets and returning funds to the Department
Updated information on Perkins NSLDS reporting, including guidance on the Perkins Loan Portfolio Report (PRKPF1), and the Perkins Extract by Parameters Report (REC001)

Reorganized economic hardship deferment guidance for improved clarity
Several section headings amended for greater precision

Sunsetting of the Fresh Start Initiative described
Section headings throughout chapter amended for greater precision
Updated information on the School Participation Teams, which have been unified into a single team to address questions from all schools

Clarified several headings for greater precision
Added information imported from Volume 4 on handling FSEOG overpayments

We appreciate any comments that you have on Volume 6 of the FSA Handbook. We revise the text based on questions and feedback from the financial aid community, so please reach out to us about how to improve the Handbook through the “Contact Customer Support” feature in Partner Connect’s Help Center, clicking on “FSA Handbook” under the Topic section.