Update on March 16, 2026: We updated this document to make minor corrections to volumes 2 and 6. These volumes have been replaced, and the changes are noted in the March 2026 Change Tracking Log. We also replaced the COD XML example “Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, and Direct Loan with Warning Edit Response” to fix a formatting issue.
The 2026–2027 Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Technical Reference, containing development information for the 2026–27 award year, is published below.
Note: The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) makes numerous amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), some of which became effective upon enactment of OBBBA while others will become effective on July 1, 2026, and beyond. To ensure that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) can implement those provisions that are effective now or will become effective on July 1, 2026, ED is drafting presentations and documents in advance of publication of a final rule on these topics. These presentations and documents are intended to ensure that vendors, servicers, partners and stakeholders have the requisite time to prepare for the implementation of the OBBBA. However, the information is subject to change depending upon ED's rulemaking process. ED has not prejudged the outcome of that negotiated rulemaking process. This information provides a structure for vendors, servicers, partners and stakeholders to begin building these systems, but it does not impair, prevent, or control policy decisions that may be made by ED. The information is preliminary, and ED, including its vendors and servicers, will not launch any new systems or make final system changes that are public facing until ED publishes a final rule on these topics. ED will provide additional information if any changes are made during the rulemaking process.
If you have questions, contact the FSA Partner and School Relations Center at 1-800-848-0978. The contact center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. You may also email CODSupport@ed.gov.
Volume 1: Getting Started
2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 3: Combination System Supplement in PDF Format – Planned for Late March 2026
2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 4: Campus-Based Processing Technical Reference in PDF Format– Planned for April 2026
Booking Notification Response in Text Format
Common Record Direct Loan Input Example in Text Format
Common Record Input Example in Text Format
Credit Status Response in Text Format
Direct Loan Correction Response in Text Format
Direct Loan Counseling Response in Text Format
Direct Loan Denied Credit Decision Response in Text Format
Direct Loan Web Origination and Disbursement Response in Text Format
Direct Loan with Anticipated Disbursements and Warning Edits Response in Text Format
Direct PLUS Loan Common Record Response in Text Format
Direct PLUS Loan Web Origination and Disbursement Response in Text Format
DL Grad PLUS Application Response in Text Format
DL Grad PLUS Linked MPN Response in Text Format
DL Grad PLUS Unlinked MPN Response in Text Format
DL Parent PLUS Application Response in Text Format
DL Parent PLUS Linked MPN Response in Text Format
DL Parent PLUS Unlinked MPN Response in Text Format
DL Sub Linked MPN Response in Text Format
DL SubUnsub Unlinked MPN Response in Text Format
DL Unsub Linked MPN Response in Text Format
Entrance Counseling Acknowledgement in Text Format
Informed Borrower Response in Text Format
Linked Agreement Acknowledgement in Text Format
Negative Disbursement Response in Text Format
Origination Fee Response in Text Format
Payment to Servicer Response in Text Format
Pell Award Correction Response in Text Format
Pell Award Reject Response in Text Format
Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, and Direct Loan with Warning Edit Response in Text Format
Pell Origination and Disbursement Response in Text Format
PLUS Application Response for a Borrower with Accepted Credit in Text Format
SSN Date of Birth Reject Response in Text Format
TEACH Grant Counseling Response in Text Format
TEACH Grant Exit Counseling Response in Text Format
TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling Response in Text Format
TEACH Grant Web Origination and Disbursement Response in Text Format
The U.S. Department of Education strives to make all content accessible to everyone. While these documents do not currently meet the standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Federal Student Aid is working to create accessible versions. If you need access to these documents before the accessible versions are available, please contact the Information Technology Accessibility Program Help Desk at ITAPSupport@ed.gov to help facilitate.