The 2024-2025 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.
Important First Steps for Student and Parents
In order to complete a FAFSA students and parents will first need to create a FSA ID, which is used to sign in and complete a FAFSA. You can create a FSA ID at any time and our office encourages you to complete this step as soon as possible. You can create your FSA ID at studentaid.gov. A FSA ID consists of a username and password you create to gain access to the U.S. Department of Education’s online systems. Your FSA ID also serves as your legal signature when completing electronic documents.
Please Note: If a parent and student have already completed a FAFSA in the past you may already have a FSA ID. This is in reference to new students, spouses, and parents who don’t already have FSA IDs.
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.
We will continue to notify students as information is released.
Please take time to watch the videos the U. S department of Education has produced.
If you have questions or concerns please contact our office at 845 574 4282