Miles Jamison 
- GDIT worked with the Education Department to modernize the FAFSA system
- The upgrades made it possible for users to accomplish the FAFSA form in 15 minutes
- The upgrades also allowed the FAFSA system to immediately produce financial aid estimates for most users
General Dynamics Information Technology has collaborated with the Department of Education to modernize the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, eligibility system. GDIT said Wednesday that the upgrades made it possible for users to accomplish the FAFSA form in 15 minutes and for the system to immediately estimate aid eligibility for most applicants.
GDIT’s work with the Education Department is part of a broader push to modernize federal technology and citizen services. The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 FedCiv Summit on Oct. 29 will examine federal IT priorities, including observability and its role in supporting shared services. Register today.
What Is the FAFSA Form For?
The FAFSA form is accomplished by those interested in determining whether they are eligible for various types of educational financial aid offered by the government. The Department of Education itself, which administers FAFSA, provides more than $120 billion in student financial support.
How Did GDIT Support the FAFSA Update?
GDIT worked with the department using agentic artificial intelligence and AI-assisted software development. The company said the approach supported updates to the eligibility system and helped deliver a more intuitive application experience.
GDIT’s work on the eligibility system builds on a potential $121.8 million contract awarded in 2022 to develop a replacement for the Education Department’s central processing system for federal student aid. The contract called for the system to determine applicants’ eligibility for federal aid and generate calculations that could be shared with postsecondary institutions.
Jylinda Johnson, senior vice president of the federal civilian division at GDIT, said the company used AI technologies to help the department create a more intuitive application experience.
“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,” Johnson added.
The company has also described using cloud technologies, DevSecOps, automation and advanced analytics as part of its broader FAFSA modernization work, including efforts focused on system security, scalability and reliability.
The work also aligns with GDIT’s Vision, Innovation and Acceleration strategy, which the company announced in March. The strategy emphasizes investment in technologies intended to support citizen services and government modernization across federal agencies.
