2024-25 Financial Aid Changes

What Is It? Why Is It Changing?

The biggest changes in 40 years will be happening in Financial Aid starting the 2024-25 academic year. Are you ready? This webpage will be updated as the Financial Aid Office prepares for these changes, so you can stay informed about your Financial Aid resources, and the changes ahead.

The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024–25 award year. Some changes have already gone into effect in prior academic years, but the largest changes are occurring in 2024-25. This includes changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs. These changes will alter how it looks for students to apply for aid through the FAFSA® form and the methodology for determining what aid students may be eligible for.

 

What Does This Mean for You?

Your 2024-25 FAFSA® process will be different, but the Financial Aid Office is here for you! This webpage will keep you updated with the most recent information.

Review the Financial Aid FAQ page for more details.

What Is Changing?

2024-25 FAFSA Release Date

The FAFSA® was made available January 1, 2024.  Please login to the FAFSA ®and complete the form to determine your eligibility for grants, scholarships, and loans.

Say goodbye to “EFC” (expected family contribution) and hello to “SAI” (student aid index)

This number measures the student and/or family’s ability to pay for college. The new need analysis formula allows for a potential SAI as low as -1500 and implements a separate eligibility criterion for determining Federal Pell Grants.

Expanded Access to Federal Pell Grant
  • Expanded eligibility based on family size (not including number in college) and federal poverty level will allow for more students to receive Federal Pell Grants.
  • Incarcerated students in federal and state penal facilities may be able to receive Federal Pell Grants.
  • Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility will be restored to students whose school closed when they were enrolled or if the school is found to have misled the student.
Streamlined FAFSA® Form

Fewer questions will be asked, and federal tax data will automatically be transferred from the IRS starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA®.

New Terminology

With the 2024-25 FAFSA® you will see and hear words such as contributor (anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA® like a parent or spouse) and consent (each required contributor will be required to consent to their information being included on the FAFSA®). 

Additional Information

Check out our FAQs page for more detailed information and answers for common questions.

Want More Information?

Watch what Federal Student Aid has to say about FAFSA Simplification in this YouTube video. 

 

Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA)

How Is the WASFA Being Impacted?

 

 

How Can You Prepare?

 

If you are a new applicant, create a Federal Student Aid ID.
Both you and any required contributors must complete this step prior to submitting a FAFSA®.

If you or your parent already has an FSA ID from a previous year, you do not need to apply again and should be able to log into the FAFSA application and complete the form.

 

See how the FAFSA Simplification changes impact what you may qualify for.
Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to see what you may now be eligible for.

 

Check back here for the most recent updates!

 

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