2024–2025 FAFSA Changes
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been redesigned for the 2024–2025 academic year.
The FAFSA Simplification Act, passed in 2020, aims to streamline the application process, create a better user experience, and reduce barriers while expanding student eligibility for financial aid.
What You Need to Know Now
- The 2024–2025 FAFSA is now available.
- Complete the 2024–2025 FAFSA if you're attending college between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
- You should create a Financial Student Aid (FSA) ID for each of your FAFSA contributors. Under the new changes, a contributor refers to anyone who provides information on your FAFSA form, including you (the student), your spouse, your parent, or your parent's spouse. Follow Federal Student Aid's tutorial video to create an FSA ID [video].
More information about the form launch is available on the FAFSA website.
What are the changes to the FAFSA?
These changes impact financial aid eligibility for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 terms.
Key changes include:
- Fewer questions: The new FAFSA will have a maximum of 46 questions instead of the previous maximum of 108.
- Streamlined process: Your IRS tax information will be automatically transferred to your application through the IRS Direct Data Exchange.
- New terminology: Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will now be Student Aid Index (SAI). The new FAFSA also introduces the new term "contributor", which refers to anyone who provides information on your FAFSA form, including you (the student), your spouse, your parent, or your parent's spouse.
- Increased flexibility for unusual circumstances: If you are in foster care, homeless, an unaccompanied youth, or cannot provide parental information, you can complete the form with a provisional independent student determination and receive a calculated SAI.
- Expanded Pell Grant eligibility: Awards will be based on family size, adjusted gross income (AGI), and poverty guidelines.
- Updates for divorced/separated parents: The new FAFSA requires information from the parent who provided the most financial support in the last 12 months instead of the parent who you lived with most in the last 12 months.
- New asset reporting requirements: Family farms and small businesses must be reported as assets.
How can I learn more about the changes to the FAFSA?
Visit the Federal Student Aid website to learn more about the upcoming changes.
You can also:
- Watch Federal Student Aid's video about the upcoming changes [video].
- Follow Federal Student Aid on social media for more information.
- Monitor your student email for communications from TCC's Student Financial Aid Services office.
What if I have more questions?
Email Student Financial Aid Services at financial.aid@tccd.edu.
Updated January 12, 2024