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FAFSA Simplification - Updates to the 2024-2025 FAFSA

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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® is now available here.
    • The 2024-2025 FAFSA® determines your financial aid eligibility for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 terms.
  • 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.
  • Schools will begin receiving student FAFSA® aid eligibility information around mid-March of 2024.  

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®  became available on December 31, 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 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 adopted 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®.  
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Prepare for the FAFSA

  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA® is now available here.
  • Create a studentaid.gov account (FSA ID) 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 a studentaid.gov account, you can fill out the FAFSA® when it’s available, sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), apply for repayment plans, complete loan counseling, and use the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Help Tool.

Resources

Federal Student Aid — What is the FAFSA® Simplification Act?

What's Changed for the 2024-2025 FAFSA form?

2024-2025 FAFSA FAQs

Federal Student Aid Estimator

Follow Federal Student Aid on social media for announcements and resources.