Launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form

There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. As a result, the new form will be available in December 2023, not Oct. 1.

The launch date will apply only for the 2024–25 FAFSA form.

The changes to the FAFSA form for the 2024–25 aid year include

• expanded eligibility for federal student aid and
• a more streamlined application process.

The office of Federal Student Aid provides publications, fact sheets, online tools, and other resources to help you prepare and pay for college or career school. Financial aid from the federal government to help you pay for education expenses at an eligible college or career school. Grants, loans and work-study are types of federal student aid. You must complete the FAFSA form to apply for this aid.

College and university coursework is expensive. You need to decide how to support yourself and pay for your education. Financial aid can help. Financial aid is usually based either on need or merit (like achievement or exceptional skill or experience).

Types of Financial Aid

There are three basic types of financial aid available: grants, scholarships, and loans. The Federal Student Aid website has valuable information on the following types of aid, and related resources to help you find and apply for financial aid.

Grants

Grants are financial aid that does not need to be paid back. It is often based on need. The United States government grants money for higher education. Learn more about higher education grants on the Federal Student Aid website.

Some colleges and universities participate in a federally funded Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). This grant is administered by the financial aid office of a participating college or university; check with each institution. The FSEOG is targeted for students with the greatest financial need.

Scholarships

Scholarships are like gifts that do not need to be repaid. They are offered by a variety of organizations (e.g., organizations, schools, businesses) and are often based on merit. Conduct a scholarship search using the link provided.

Loans

A loan is money you receive that must be repaid, generally with interest. The federal government pays the interest on some loans while you are in school. Special education teachers can have their federal loans canceled or forgiven if they meet specific requirements. The Federal Student Aid website has more information on the conditions for student loan forgiveness or cancellation.

Applying for Financial Aid

You will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for most types of financial aid. You will need to complete the FAFSA each year you need financial aid. Filing the FAFSA is free. You should not pay anyone or any organization to file the FAFSA. Check with your chosen institution’s financial aid office for assistance.

Ways to Apply

FAFSA on the Web
To fill out the FAFSA online, visit www.studentaid.gov. Students interested in signing their FAFSA electronically will be prompted to request a PIN. Students should keep their PIN a secret in order to protect the privacy of the information they provide.

Some of the benefits to filing the FAFSA electronically:

On-line help is available for each question. Edits are built in to notify students of potential errors before the application is processed.Electronic filing is faster than submitting the paper version. Calculations are performed automatically. Software encryption is enabled to protect personal information.

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
Students planning to complete their FAFSA online should download the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet (pdf). It contains the application questions in the same order as the Web version. Many find this worksheet helpful to:

Learn what types of questions are asked.

Get familiar with the requested information and documents.

Saves time. When students are ready to submit the FAFSA online, all the required information is ready to be keyed in.

Paper FAFSA
The FAFSA is still available in a paper format for students and families who don’t have access to a computer or feel uncomfortable submitting their personal information via the Internet. Funding amounts students will be offered are the same whether they submit the FAFSA online or on paper. However, processing time can increase by two weeks.

To request copies of the paper FAFSA (English or Spanish available) contact:

Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC)
PO Box 84
Washington, DC 20044

1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
TTY 1-800-730-891

Resources
www.nasfaa.org
https://studentaid.gov