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2024-2025 FAFSA Changes

 

FAFSA logo Processing Questions Contributor questions  
Required info questions Student Aid Index Questions Known FAFSA Issues

The 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) includes unprecedented changes to how students and families apply for federal student aid and how we determine eligibility, giving students a better and simpler experience with the FAFSA form. Improvements include a direct data exchange with the IRS for income data elements, a new “Who’s My Parent?” wizard, and a single consolidated portal for all FAFSA help resources. The following information pertains to all students enrolling in classes for the 2024-25 academic year, including the Summer 2024 session.

Important First Steps For Students And Parents

In order to complete a FAFSA application students and parents will first need to create a FSA ID, which is used to sign in and complete a FAFSA application.  You can create a FSA ID at anytime and our office encourages you to complete this step as soon as possible.  You can create your FSA ID at studentaid.gov.  An FSA ID consists of a username and password you create to gain access to the U.S. Department of Education's online systems. An FSA ID can also serve as your legal signature when completing electronic documents.

Please Note: If the parent and student have already completed a FAFSA in the past you already have a FSA ID.  This is in reference to new students, spouses, and parents who don't already have FSA IDs.

FAFSA Application Dates Change

The FAFSA has been in the past available for the following school year starting in October.  However the 2024-25 FAFSA is expected to be available in December 2023.

EFC To SAI (2024-2025 AY)

Financial Need under the Student Aid Index (SAI) will be determined differently from the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

EFC ranged from 0 to 99999, SAI can be as low as a negative 1500.

Many undergraduate students will see increase eligibility for the Pell Grant.

Roles To Be Added

Roles will include student, a parent (if student is dependent) and a spouse (if the student is independent and filed separate tax returns).  Students will provide information through the FAFSA application to contact appropriate other roles if needed. 

Students, parents or spouses should request their FSA ID in advance of starting the FAFSA application. 

Students will not be able to see information provided by the other role as well as parent or spouse will not be able to see student information provided.

Additional Changes To The FAFSA

Housing plan question will be removed from the FAFSA application when selecting school options.

Number in college question will still be collected from the student, however this will not be part of the new SAI calculation.

Families with farms and businesses will be considered assets in the SAI calculation.

Notification

Our office will continue to update and notify students upon information of the release of the FAFSA application. Watch the video below for more information on what has changed.

 

FAFSA Processing & SBU Financial Aid

Contributors

Required FAFSA Information

Student Aid Index (SAI)

 

Videos and Links

2024-25 Federal Aid Estimator
2024-25 FAFSA Roadmap
fafsa.gov
studentaid.gov