We will continue to update this webpage as we receive more information from the Department
of Education.
On Dec. 27, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The law includes
provisions regarding the FAFSA Simplification Act—a sweeping redesign of the processes
and systems used to award federal student aid. Specifically, the law makes it easier
for students and families to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA® ) form as well as expands access to federal student aid. Due to
the significant changes, the FAFSA opening date for the 2024-2025 award year will
be delayed from October 1, 2023 to sometime in December 2023.
What is changiNG WITH THE FAFSA?
Technically, "sometime in December". The Financial Aid office will provide updates
as more information is made available. You may also sign up for federal updates. Or, you may wait and file the FAFSA as soon after January 1, 2024 as possible.
The FAFSA will reduce the maximum number of questions from 108 to 46. And because
the FAFSA on the Web is dynamic, some students won't even be presented with all 46
questions. This streamlined format will simplify the application process and make
it less daunting for students and their families.
Previously, users had the option to enter their tax information manually or use the
IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Beginning with 2024-25, all persons on the FAFSA must provide consent for the Department of Education to receive
tax information or confirmation of non-filing status directly from the IRS. In a very small number of cases, students and families will have to enter their
tax data manually, but for most, that data will be automatically transferred into
the application. This change makes it easier to complete the FAFSA and reduces the
number of questions to be answered.
A contributor—a new term being introduced on the 2024-25 FAFSA—refers to anyone who
is required to provide information on a student's form (such as a parent/stepparent
or spouse). A student's or parent's answers on the FAFSA will determine which contributors
(if any) will be required to provide information.
Contributors will receive an email informing them that they've been identified as
such, and will need to log in, using their own FSA ID, to provide the required information
on the student's FAFSA.
Being a contributor does not mean they are financially responsible for the student's
education costs, but itdoes mean the contributor must provide information on the FAFSA or the application will
be incomplete and the student will not be eligible for federal student aid.
A notable terminology update within the new FAFSA is the replacement of the term Expected
Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI). This name more accurately
describes the number used to determine aid eligibility and, unlike the EFC, the SAI
may be a negative number down to -1500.
Previously, the FAFSA calculated the number of household members attending college
into the EFC, dividing it proportionately to determine federal aid eligibility. Beginning
with the 2024-25 FAFSA, the application will still ask how many household members
are in college, but your answer will not be calculated into the Student Aid Index.
However, the FAFSA formula now allows for more income protection, which should offset
this change.
Families making less than 175% and single parents making less than 225% of the federal poverty level will see their students receive a maximum Federal Pell Grant award. Minimum Pell Grants will be guaranteed to students from households below 275%,
325%, 350%, or 400% of the poverty level, depending on household structure. Pell awards
between the maximum and minimum amounts will be determined by SAI.
For dependent students, financial information was previously needed from the parent(s) the student had lived
with the most in the last 12 months. With the new FAFSA, financial information will
be required from the parent(s) who provided the most financial support to the student.
Families must now report the value of their small business or family farm. If the
family farm includes the principal place of residence, applicants should determine
the total net value of all farm assets and subtract the net value of their principal
residence to determine the final value of their farm assets.
NOTE: 2024-25 FAFSA CHANGES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
INFORMATION ON THIS WEBPAGE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
