FAFSA Changes for 2025-2026

FAFSA Simplification

Due to the passing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification Act on December 27, 2020, as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FAFSA changes were implemented and will continue for the 2025-2026 aid year.

You can expect the following:

  • The 2025-2026 FAFSA will not be available until December 2024.

  • The 2025-2026 FAFSA determines your financial aid eligibility for the fall of 2025 and spring 2026.

  • The FAFSA application process has been streamlined and is, hopefully, easier for students to complete.

  • New terminology has been added to the FAFSA.

  • Eligibility for federal financial aid has been expanded.

We will continue to update this page as additional information becomes available.

 

FAFSA changes for 2025-2026

  • Instead of opening in October, the 2025-2026 FAFSA will not be available until December 2024. For future years, the FAFSA should be available in October as it had been in previous years.

  • The FAFSA features fewer questions, fewer requirements, and retrieves tax information using a direct data exchange (DDX) from the IRS instead of the previous IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

  • The number of family members in college will still be asked on the FAFSA, but it will be excluded from the federal, state, and institutional financial aid calculation.

  • The adjustments to the new Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation will expand Federal Pell Grant eligibility to more students.

  • The FAFSA has introduced the new term "contributor", which refers to anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form, including the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the parent’s spouse. Being a contributor does not imply responsibility for the student's college costs.

    • Students will need the contributor’s name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), and email address to invite them to complete the required portion of the FAFSA.
    • If a contributor doesn't have an SSN, they can still be invited to complete their portion of the FAFSA form. To invite a contributor who doesn't have an SSN, the student or parent will indicate that the contributor doesn't have an SSN and will instead provide the contributor's address. Contributors will need to provide personal and financial information on their section of the FAFSA.

Prepare for the FAFSA

While the 2025-2026 FAFSA will not be available until December, you can still prepare by doing the following:

  • If you do not already have a StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID), you can create yours now on the Federal Student Aid website.

    • This account and password gives you access to the Federal Student Aid’s online system and serves as your electronic signature.
    • By creating an FSA ID, you can fill out the FAFSA when it’s available, and, later you will be able to complete your student loan counseling for federal loans, sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), apply for repayment plans, and use the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Help Tool.
    • Keep in mind that you will need to have an FSA ID as the student and each of your contributors will also create their own FSA ID.

  • Complete the FAFSA as soon as it opens in December.

  • Register for upcoming webinars provided by Federal Student Aid.

Prospective students for the Fall 2025 application cycle should make sure to complete the CSS Profile form if they wish to be considered for need-based financial aid. See more complete information regarding our financial aid process for new students by going here.

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