FAFSA Changes and Information

The 2024-2025 FAFSA and 2025-2026 FASFA are now available. Students seeking aid for the current year and summer 2025 should complete the 2024-2025 form. Current and prospective student looking for aid for next academic year should complete the 2025-2026 FASFA.


Why the FAFSA Changed

Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act to make the FAFSA application process easier for students and families. The FAFSA Simplification Act made numerous changes to the application and calculation of financial aid eligibility starting in the 2024-2025 award year. In some cases these changes could increase the student’s eligibility for financial aid, others may see a decrease in aid-eligibility.


Notable Changes

  • The FAFSA now has a reduced number of questions and should be easier for students and families to complete.
  • The Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) has been replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI). Like the EFC, the SAI will be used to determine student need and aid eligibility for federal, state and institutional funds.
  • The number of family members in college will still be asked on the FAFSA but will no longer be considered in the SAI calculation. The EFC did provide a benefit for those with multiple children in college. This change may result in a reduction of need-based aid for families with multiple students in college.
  • If the student’s parents are divorced or separated, the student should report the parent income of the parent (and spouse, if remarried) who provides the most financial support, not necessarily the parent the student lived with.
  • To expedite processing, parents without a Social Security Number can apply for a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA-ID) and submit their FAFSA application online. They will no longer have to print, sign and mail the form.
  • All FAFSA contributors must consent to have their tax data transferred directly from the IRS to the FAFSA, even if contributors have to manually input their tax information or did not file, consent will be required to be eligible for student aid.