FAFSA Changes for 2024-2025

FAFSA Simplification

Due to the passing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification Act on December 27, 2020, as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the FAFSA is changing for the 2024-2025 aid year.

You can expect the following changes:

  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA will not be available until December 2023.

  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA determines your financial aid eligibility for the fall 2024 and spring 2025.

  • The FAFSA application process will be streamlined and easier for students to complete.

  • New terminology will be added to the FAFSA.

  • Eligibility for federal financial aid will be expanded.

We will continue to update this page as additional information becomes available.

FAFSA changes for 2024-2025

  • Instead of opening in October, the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not be available until December 2023. This is only temporary for 2024. After the 2024-2025 aid year, the FAFSA will be available in October as usual.

  • The FAFSA will feature fewer questions, fewer requirements, and retrieve tax information using a direct data exchange (DDX) from the IRS instead of the previous IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

  • The number of family members in college will still be asked on the FAFSA, but it will be excluded from the federal, state, and institutional financial aid calculation.

  • The adjustments to the new Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation will expand Federal Pell Grant eligibility to more students.

  • The FAFSA is introducing the new term "contributor", which refers to anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form, including the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the parent’s spouse. Being a contributor does not imply responsibility for the student's college costs.

    • Students will need the contributor’s name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), and email address to invite them to complete the required portion of the FAFSA.
    • If a contributor doesn't have an SSN, they can still be invited to complete their portion of the FAFSA form. To invite a contributor who doesn't have an SSN, the student or parent will indicate that the contributor doesn't have an SSN and will instead provide the contributor's address. Contributors will need to provide personal and financial information on their section of the FAFSA.

Prepare for the FAFSA

While the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not be available until December, you can still prepare by doing the following:

  • If you do not already have a StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID), you can create yours now on the Federal Student Aid website.

    • This account and password gives you access to the Federal Student Aid’s online system and serves as your electronic signature.
    • By creating an FSA ID, you can fill out the FAFSA when it’s available, and, later you will be able to complete your student loan counseling for federal loans, sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), apply for repayment plans, and use the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Help Tool.
    • Keep in mind that you will need to have an FSA ID as the student and each of your contributors will also create their own FSA ID.

  • Complete the FAFSA as soon as it opens in December.

  • Watch this video on: "What's Changed for the 2024-2025 FAFSA form?"

  • Register for upcoming webinars provided by Federal Student Aid.

Prospective students for Fall 2024 application cycle should make sure to complete the CSS Profile form if they wish to be considered for need based financial aid. See more complete information regarding our financial aid process for new students by going here.

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