We are pleased to announce the posting of EDExpress for Windows 2025–26, Release 2.0, in the Software and Other Tools area of the Knowledge Center website (https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/topics/software-and-other-tools). Release 2.0 adds full Federal Pell Grant (Pell Grant), William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan), and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant functionality for the 2025–26 award cycle.
In addition, the following EDExpress 2025–26 documents are available on the Knowledge Center website:
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Installation Guide for EDExpress for Windows 2025–26 (provides technical and installation guidance)
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The EDExpress for Windows 2025–26, Release 2.0 Cover Letter (provides critical information regarding enhancements and other updates in Release 2.0)
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The EDExpress for Windows 2025–26, Release 2.0 Desk Reference (includes step-by-step guidance regarding EDExpress Pell Grant and Direct Loan functionality in Release 2.0)
Note: Volume 3 of the 2025–26 COD Technical Reference, which provides technical guidance and record layouts for use with the EDExpress 2025–26 Pell Grant, Direct Loan, and TEACH Grant modules, is also available for download from the Knowledge Center website.
We have continued to modernize the EDExpress user interface in 2025–26 by relocating major functionality such as setup, import, export, and report printing from separate dialog boxes to the main EDExpress screen. We also implemented “wizard” options for functions like Query and File Formats setup to provide a more intuitive, step-by-step path to using these advanced features to facilitate more effective use of your EDExpress data.
For more information and guidance regarding 2025–26 software enhancements, review the EDExpress Help Text and software documentation available on the Knowledge Center website, including the cover letters and desk references posted with Release 1.0 and Release 2.0.
Note the following guidance during the installation of EDExpress 2025–26, Release 2.0:
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When you initiate the EDExpress 2025–26 installation process, you may be prompted to install the ACE Access Database Engine. This functionality is required to install EDExpress 2025–26. Click Install to allow the process to determine if the ACE Access Database Engine is already on the workstation and install it if necessary.
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EDExpress 2025–26 requires Microsoft .NET version 8.0. You may be prompted to install this software if the EDExpress 2025–26 installation process determines it is not available on your workstation.
If you upgrade from EDExpress 2025–26, Release 1.0 to Release 2.0 by running a Custom installation, your User IDs, passwords, and other security settings are carried forward to Release 2.0 and do not need to be recreated.
If you have not installed EDExpress 2025–26 prior to Release 2.0, when you first access EDExpress 2025–26 after installation, the default User ID is SYSADMIN and the default password is $y$tem Adm1n. Be sure to include the space between $y$tem and Adm1n (the two parts of the default password).
After you enter the default user ID and password, EDExpress 2025–26 requires that you immediately (before selecting the Login button) define a new password for the SYSADMIN. New passwords must be a minimum of 12 characters and must include at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one keyboard character that is not a letter or number (such as an exclamation mark or other punctuation symbol). You can adjust the minimum password length and other requirements in the Password Setup screen.
The SYSADMIN user ID only provides access to critical administrative functions in order to limit its use for routine software tasks and improve your ability to trace actions taken in the software to specific users. EDExpress administrators at your school should create unique user IDs in Security Users setup with the necessary access (based on the associated Security Group) and log into the software under those IDs for most software tasks they perform.
For more information on security setup, see EDExpress Help in the software and the EDExpress for Windows 2025-2026, Release 2.0 Desk Reference.
If you have questions regarding this message, please contact the FPS Help Desk at 1-800-330-5947 or by email at support@fps.ed.gov. The FPS Help Desk provides customer service for the FAFSA Processing System (FPS), the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG), and the EDExpress for Windows software.
If you have any questions about the COD System, please contact the FSA Partner and School Relations Center at 1-800-848-0978. Starting May 5, 2025, the contact center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. You may also email CODSupport@ed.gov.