Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

FAFSA Simplification and Changes for 2024-25

• An Easier and Faster FAFSA

  The number of questions will drop from 108 to 46 and not all 46 questions will be required. This streamlined process makes the form easier to file for applicants and their families.

• Students may list up to 20 colleges

  Applicants should no longer need to submit the FAFSA multiple times to remove and add colleges with the ability for 20 colleges to be added on their FAFSA. As before, colleges cannot see what other schools applicants list on their application.

• All contributors must provide financial information

  A contributor (a new term for the 2024-25 FAFSA) is anyone who is required to provide information on a student's FAFSA (such as a parent, step-parent, or student's spouse). A Student's or parent's answers on the FAFSA will determine which contributors need to provide information.

  Contributors will receive an email informing them if they need to provide information based on the email address the applicant provides and will need to log in using their own Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. If they do not already have an FSA ID they will need to create one.

  Being a contributor does not mean they are financially responsible for the student's educational costs, but it does mean the contributor must provide information on the FAFSA in order for it to be completed. If the information is not provided the application will be incomplete and ineligible for federal student aid.

• Applicants and Contributors must use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX)

  Currently, filers could either manually enter their tax information or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Starting in 2024-25 all contributors and applicants must provide consent for the Department of Education to receive federal tax information (including confirmation of non-filing status) directly from the IRS using the DDX. In very few instances, contributors will need to enter their tax data manually.

  This consent is necessary even if the contributor does not have an SSN, did not file taxes, or filed taxes in another country.

• Student Aid Index (SAI) replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

  On the new FAFSA, the term Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI). This name more accurately describes the index number used to determine aid eligibility and, unlike the EFC, the SAI may be a negative number down to -1500.

• The number in college will not impact the SAI

  Previously the FAFSA asked for the number in the household enrolled in college to divide the EFC by the number in college. Starting in 2024-25 the FAFSA application will still ask for this information but it will no longer be calculated into the SAI or index number.

  Wentworth is awaiting additional guidance and information in order to how best assist families with this change that have multiple students in college at the same time.

• Some students will automatically be awarded a Pell Grant

  Families making less than 175% and single parents making less than 225% of the federal poverty level will see their students receive a maximum Federal Pell Grant award. Minimum Pell Grants will be guaranteed to students from households below 275%, 325%, 350%, or 400% of the poverty level, depending on household structure. Pell awards between the maximum and minimum amounts will be determined by SAI.

• Parent on the FAFSA may change

  For dependent students, currently the parent you lived with the most in the last 12 months was used for the FAFSA. Starting with 2024-25 the parent who provides the most financial support over the past 12 months will now be the parent contributor on the FAFSA.

  For single, divorced, or separated parents who do not live together, only the parent who provides the most financial support's information will be used.

  For parents who are remarried, the income and assets of that parent's spouse must be included on the FAFSA.

• Family farms and small businesses must be reported as assets

  When asked, families must now report the value of their small business(es) and/or family farm. If the family farm includes the primary residence, applicants should determine the total net value of all farm assets and subtract the net value of their primary residence to determine the value of their farm assets.

• When will the new 2024-25 Simplified FAFSA be available?

  The updated FAFSA is planned to launch sometime in December.

  If you'd like to estimate how this may change your financial aid eligibility they have provided a Federal Student Aid Estimator.

• What can I do now to prepare for the changes?

  We encourage students who may apply for aid for 2024-25 to ensure they have a valid Federal Student Aid ID or FSA ID early, as well as their parent(s) and/or step-parent, or spouse. You can create an FSA ID on studentaid.gov and it takes about 3-5 days to be created and validated through the federal systems.