Changeflow GovPing Higher Ed Accreditation 2026-2027 COD Technical Reference Published

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2026-2027 COD Technical Reference Published

FSA Partners Knowledge Center

Published February 27th, 2026

Detected March 1st, 2026

Summary

The U.S. Department of Education has published the 2026-2027 Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Technical Reference. This document provides development information for the upcoming award year and details amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

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What changed

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has published the 2026-2027 Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Technical Reference, which contains development information for the 2026-27 award year. This publication also addresses amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 resulting from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA). While some OBBBA provisions are effective immediately, others will take effect on July 1, 2026, and beyond. ED is issuing these preliminary documents and presentations to help vendors, servicers, partners, and stakeholders prepare for implementation, noting that the information is subject to change based on the ongoing rulemaking process.

Regulated entities, including educational institutions and their partners, should review the published technical reference volumes and associated documents to understand the upcoming changes. Although this information is preliminary and does not constitute final policy, it provides a framework for system development. ED will not launch new systems or make public-facing changes until a final rule is published. Stakeholders should anticipate further updates as the rulemaking process progresses, particularly regarding the July 1, 2026, effective dates.

What to do next

Review the 2026-2027 COD Technical Reference volumes for system development information.
Monitor future rulemaking process updates from the U.S. Department of Education regarding HEA amendments.
Prepare systems for implementation of OBBBA provisions effective July 1, 2026, and beyond.

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Posted Date February 27, 2026 Subject 2026–2027 COD Technical Reference (Partial)

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.

Contact Information

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.

Attachments Volume 1: Getting Started

2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 1: Getting Started in PDF Format

Volume 2: Common Record Technical Reference

2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 2: Common Record Technical Reference in PDF Format

Volume 3: Combination System Supplement – Planned for Late March 2026

2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 3: Combination System Supplement in PDF Format – Planned for Late March 2026

Volume 4: Campus-Based Processing Technical Reference– Planned for April 2026

2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 4: Campus-Based Processing Technical Reference in PDF Format– Planned for April 2026

Volume 5: School Testing Guide

2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 5: School Testing Guide in PDF Format

Volume 6: Appendices

2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 6: Appendices in PDF Format

Volume 7: COD XML Examples

2026–2027 COD Technical Reference: Volume 7: COD XML Examples in PDF Format

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

Unlinked Agreement Acknowledgement 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.

Last Modified: 02/27/2026