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FAFSA Updates and FAQs

FAFSA Updates

March 1, 2024: The U.S. Department of Education says the FAFSA form to apply for financial aid to help pay for attendance at college between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025 is available and processing should begin mid-March. When you submit your completed 2024–25 FAFSA form, you’ll get an email confirming that we received your form with preliminary information related to your eligibility for federal student aid. You can apply, view and make corrections to your FAFSA by logging into your account at StudentAid.gov.

Previous FAFSA Updates
FAFSA FAQs

 

Start Your 2024-25 FAFSA Form

You can find more helpful videos and information on the Student Aid website.

 

Previous FAFSA Updates

January 31, 2024:

  • The U.S. Department of Education should start processing and delivering the 2024-25 FAFSA in mid-March. Students should receive an email confirming their information has been sent to their requested schools.

December 30, 2023:

  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA was soft launched by the U.S. Department of Education. The 2024-2025 FAFSA determines financial aid eligibility for fall 2024, spring and summer of 2025. 
  • 2022 tax information should be used to file the 2024-2025 FAFSA.
  • Future application periods will resume to the default timelines opening on October 1.

December 27, 2020:

  • The FAFSA Simplification Act passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This is intended to streamline the FAFSA application process starting in the 2024-25 application. Read more about the FAFSA Simplification Act at the Federal Student Aid website.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the FAFSA change?

The FAFSA process and application was updated as a result of multiple federal legislative acts passed in the last couple of years, including the FAFSA Simplification Act. These acts work together to improve the overall application experience for students and families. 

Where can I learn more about the 2024-25 FAFSA and the application process?

The 2024-25 FAFSA application process is open. You can start, update or learn more about your application 24/7, except during any planned maintenance on the studentaid.gov website.

What do I do if I experience issues while working on my FAFSA?

Reaching out to the Department of Education directly will be your best option. You can report any application difficulties to the Federal Student Aid information center at 1-800-433-3243, emailing [email protected] or by visiting their website studentaid.gov.

What do I need to have to get started on my FAFSA?

Some of the information you might need to start your FAFSA application includes: 

  • Your social security number and if you are a dependent, your parents'/contributors' social security numbers
  • Tax returns
  • Current balance of cash, savings, checking accounts and other investments

To see a full list of potential documents needed to apply you can visit the studentaid.gov website.

Who is considered a parent or contributor?

According to the Federal Student Aid website, a parent or contributor is defined as a biological or adoptive parent, or a person that the state has determined to be your parent. Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, siblings, aunts/uncles and other relatives aren't considered parents unless they adopted you.

How do I check the status of my 2024-25 FAFSA?

There are two primary options to check on the status of your FAFSA: Log into your fafsa.gov account or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 7-800-433-3243. Note: If you submitted a paper application, you can check its status online after it has been processed. For more information on this visit the studentaid.gov website.

Do I need a FSA ID to complete a FAFSA?

No. You do not need a FSA ID to complete the FAFSA application, but it does streamline the process. Read this article about other FSA ID myths from the studentaid.gov website.

When should I update or correct my FAFSA information?

While the FAFSA application is made to report on your information at the time of filling it out, there are instances when your circumstances may change. For example if you want to add or drop schools, if your dependency status changes, or other factors. See a full list of reasons you may need to update your FAFSA application.

What do I do if I don't receive a FAFSA Submission Summary within one to three days?

If you do not see your submission summary you do not need to reapply. You can check the status of your submission by logging into your studentaid.gov account. 

What requirements do I need to meet to be considered an independent student?

According to the Federal Student Aid website, for the 2024-25 FAFSA application an independent student is one of the following:

  • Born before Jan. 1, 2001
  • Married (but not separated)
  • A graduate or professional student
  • A veteran
  • A member of the U.S. armed forces
  • An orphan
  • A ward of the court
  • A current or former foster youth
  • In a legal guardianship 
  • Have legal dependents other than a spouse
  • An emancipated minor
  • Unaccompanied and homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
How can I tell if the FAFSA was submitted successfully?

Once a student successfully submits their FAFSA form, you will receive a "Confirmation" page with a confirmation number. For more information about successful submissions you can go to the studentaid.gov website.

 

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