Changes to the 2024-2025 FAFSA Form
Changes to the Filing Process
- The student will create an FSA ID (a unique username and password used to access the website) and fill out their section of the FAFSA.
- The student will be prompted to enter the email addresses of the contributors who need to provide information for their application (if any).
- Those contributors will receive a link to create an FSA ID and finish their portion of the application.
- Each contributor will create an account and log in independently using their own FSA ID to approve releasing their tax information to FAFSA.
Both the student and the contributors must consent to access their tax information. This step is crucial for the FAFSA process. This consent applies to all situations, including those where a contributor does not have a Social Security Number, did not file taxes, or filed taxes outside of the United States.
Students must ensure that each contributor understands these requirements and completes their part of the process for the FAFSA application. If you need further assistance or specific details, visit the official FAFSA website or contact their support.
FASA will no longer ask for reporting of Selected Service registration and drug convictions.
Changes to Calculations
Previously, an estimate of how much a student’s family was likely to contribute to a student’s education, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), was used to calculate student aid amounts. The EFC has been replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI). This is a number that schools can use to determine how much aid a student will need in order to attend. The transition from the EFC to the SAI significantly changes how student aid eligibility is calculated.
SAI Overview:
- SAI Calculation Factors: The SAI takes into account the income of both the student and their contributors to assess the amount of aid a student is eligible for.
- SAI Number: Unlike the EFC, which was a dollar amount, the SAI isn’t tied to anything specific, but indicates a student's financial need to the school. The lower the SAI number, the greater the demonstrated financial need. The SAI can go as low as -1500.
- Impact on Aid Eligibility: With the introduction of the SAI, there is an anticipated increase of about 15% more students qualifying for student aid. The SAI is designed to be more inclusive and responsive to students' financial situations.
These changes are based on an effort to make financial aid more equitable and reflective of a student's financial needs and to make filling out the FAFSA easier and quicker. Understanding these updates is the best way to ensure your FAFSA goes smoothly and you get the aid you need.
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While we hope you find this content useful, it is only intended to serve as a starting point. Your next step is to speak with a qualified, licensed professional who can provide advice tailored to your individual circumstances. Nothing in this article, nor in any associated resources, should be construed as financial or legal advice. Furthermore, while we have made good faith efforts to ensure that the information presented was correct as of the date the content was prepared, we are unable to guarantee that it remains accurate today.