We are pleased to announce that the 2021–22 Central Processing System (CPS) Web Applications Demonstration (Web Demo) System, located at https://fafsademo.test.ed.gov, and the mainframe portion of the 2021–22 CPS Test System are now available for your use.
Most production version features of the 2021–22 fafsa.gov and FAA Access to CPS Online websites are available on the Web Demo system. The mainframe portion of the CPS Test System is designed to test application and correction data processing between your system and the CPS outside the production environment.
For additional information regarding the Web Demo system and the mainframe portion of the CPS Test System, see the sections below and the 2021–2022 CPS Test System User Guide. You can download the guide in PDF format from the Software and Other Tools page of the IFAP website. To access the download page for the guide, click the “CPS Test System” link, then click the “2021–2022” link, then click the date-specific link for the CPS Test System User Guide under the “Documentation” heading.
2021–22 Web Demo System
The 2021–2022 Web Demo system, which is preloaded with test data, can be used to demonstrate electronic applications to parents and students or as an aid in training financial aid administrators to assist applicants. Financial aid administrators can also use the website to become familiar with FAA Access to CPS Online functionality and train their staff to use the system.
Note: You can access both the 2020–21 and 2021–22 versions of our websites in the demonstration system. For the fafsa.gov feature, the “My FAFSA” page includes a tab for the previous award year. Pre-loaded demonstration data is available for both award years.
Mainframe Portion of 2021–22 CPS Test System
The mainframe portion of the CPS Test System is designed to test application and correction data processing between your system and the CPS outside the production environment. You can use CPS test files of application records and matching Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs), or you can create and submit your own application test records.
To download the CPS test application and ISIR data files for 2021–22, go to the Software and Other Tools page of the IFAP website, click the “CPS Test System” link, then click the “2021–2022” link. Use the individual links under the “Data” heading to access the data type listed.
In particular, we encourage schools and servicers to test the 2021–22 correction process. To submit only test correction records you have created, you must contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support to request test record IDs that will process successfully in the CPS Test System.
Schools and servicers interested in using the CPS Test System should download and review the 2021–22 CPS Test System User Guide for more information.
Note: We will post an Issues Log in Microsoft Excel format to the 2021–2022 “CPS Test System” page on the IFAP website identifying CPS changes that result in an update to the mainframe test system. Each entry in the log will include the date the item was identified, resolved, or resulted in a change, and will include the status of resolved and unresolved issues so that you can easily determine if and when previously identified issues were resolved. It will also indicate whether the specifications or test cases have been updated for 2021–22.
Contact Information
If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding the fafsa.gov component of the Web Demo system, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or by email at FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ed.gov. TDD/TTY service is also available at 1-800-730-8913.
If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding the FAA Access to CPS Online portion of the Web Demo system, or if you have questions regarding the 2021–22 CPS Test System, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 1-800-330-5947 or by email at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.