Changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA Application Process: FAFSA Delay and Simplification

February 6, 2024

 The FAFSA Simplification Act, passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, will bring significant changes to the financial aid application process using the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

What is changing?

  • The FAFSA has been streamlined to reduce the number of questions students must answer.
  • The results of the FAFSA are now called the Student Aid Index (SAI). This replaces the former terminology called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
  • The new terminology is being implemented as part of the FAFSA. Student spouses and parents who provide information in the FAFSA are called contributors. This means they contribute information to the FAFSA. 
  • The FUTURE Act, also passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, permits the IRS to provide tax information to the Department of Education when you complete the FAFSA. Taxpayers must provide consent when completing the FAFSA.
  • Changes in the eligibility calculation are expected to increase access to federal financial aid for some students.

What You Need to Know Now

  • The 2024-25 FAFSA is available now at: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
  • Students will need an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA. Get one now if you don’t already have one.
  • Duke Graduate School’s priority FAFSA filing date is March 15, 2024. Submit the FAFSA by that date to ensure you receive your aid offers before the admissions deadline, April 15, 2024.

  • The Department of Education announced a delay that may impact our office's ability to review submitted 2024-25 FAFSA data before the April 15th, 2024 Admissions deadline. The delay involves the availability of FAFSA information being sent to schools before mid-March. We have reached out the Admissions Office to let them know and will work as quick as possible as soon as the information is made available. ***Also please note that our office cannot review CSS Profile information instead of the FAFSA.***

How Can I Prepare?

  • Be sure you have an FSA ID.
  • Have your 2022 federal tax documents easily accessible in December when the 2024-25 FAFSA is available.
  • Federal Student Aid has released the FAFSA Estimator, an online estimator tool to help estimate the results of the 2024-25 FAFSA.

Students who are reporting tax information as part of their FAFSA submission must provide consent for Federal Student Aid Programs to retrieve their federal tax information from the Internal Revenue Service. Failure to provide consent will result in the student being ineligible for federal student aid.

FSA FAFSA Processing Timeline Graphic

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