FAFSA Simplification 2024-25
FAFSA Help:
- Studentaid.gov has tips on making corrections to your FAFSA, if needed: How to Correct or Update Your FAFSA
- There have been many technical issues with the rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. Here are the known issues: 2024-25 FAFSA Issue Alerts.
- If you are having an issue with completing or submitting the FAFSA, reach out to the Federal Student Aid
The Financial Aid & Scholarship Office has started receiving financial aid applications. We are hoping to get financial aid offers out in late April, but due to the extensive changes offer letters may be delayed.
The 2024-25 FAFSA application and processes have undergone the most significant changes in decades, and new changes include:
- Less questions to answer - the number of questions has been reduced from 108 questions to 46 questions.
- Expanded integration with the IRS Direct Data Exchange, reducing the time applicants spend manually entering their tax information. All parties must give consent to be eligible for aid.
- Expanded eligibility criteria for aid, increasing the number and amounts of aid students may receive.
- Watch these videos(opens in new window) for more information about submitting the 2024-25 FAFSA.
Be sure to submit your FAFSA as soon as possible. In order to meet the California priority deadline, which includes Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship, your FAFSA must be submitted by May 2, 2024.
- Submit Your FAFSAThe 2024-25 FAFSA is now open. Here are some tips(opens in new window) from Federal Student Aid on completing the 2024-25 FAFSA.
- Other FAFSA Information
Here are some additional resources including instructions on how to create your FSA ID:
- Check out the Federal Student Aid YouTube channel(opens in new window) for information about the 2024-25 FAFSA.
- Create an FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website(opens in new window) and assist contributors, such as your parent(s) or spouse, in creating an FSA ID.
- An FSA ID is an account and password that gives you access to the Federal Student Aid’s online system and serves as your electronic signature.
- With the FSA ID, 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.
- If you already have an FSA ID, there is no need to create a new one. Your existing FSA ID will continue to work.
- Shorter FAFSA
- Student Aid Index (SAI) Replaces Expected Family Contribution (EFC)After submitting the FAFSA, students will receive a Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). College financial aid offices, state agencies, and the federal government will use the SAI to determine eligibility for financial aid. This will affect all FASO processes. Watch this video(opens in new window) for more information.
- Direct Data Exchange for the FAFSA
- Approval/ConsentFAFSA Applicants must give their approval/consent to be eligible for aid. Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA, all persons listing tax information on the FAFSA will be required to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) to share tax information or confirm non-filing status. Consent from all parties must be given for the student to be eligible for aid.
- Parent of RecordEffective with the 2024-25 award year, the parent with whom the student lived the most in the past 12 months prior to filing the FAFSA is no longer a criterion for divorced or separated parents. For divorced or separated parents, income and assets are reported for the parent who provides the most financial support over the 12 months prior to filing the FAFSA even if the student does not live with that parent or lives with the other parent.
Stay tuned for more information!