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The FAFSA Simplification Act was passed by Congress in 2021 and represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. There is a new FAFSA in place for the 2024-2025 academic year. Not only has the FAFSA been updated, but there is an expansion to the eligibility for the Pell Grant and many other changes that expands access to the Federal Financial Aid.
The FAFSA usually opens every year on October 1st, but with this update, there was a delay.
The 2024/2025 FAFSA opened on December 31, 2023 and is currently available now.
There are a number of benefits of the FAFSA simplification act, including a more streamlined application process and a better user experience for the FAFSA, expanded eligibility for federal student aid, and reduced barriers for certain student populations (e.g., homeless and unaccompanied youth, incarcerated students, English language learners, and students from low-income backgrounds).
The FAFSA has reduced the maximum number of questions from 108 to 46. And because the FAFSA on the Web is dynamic, some students aren’t even being presented with all 46 questions. This streamlined format has simplified the application process and makes it less daunting for students and their families.
Previously, the FAFSA only allowed students to list up to 10 colleges and universities.
The FAFSA was previously only available in English and Spanish. The 2024-25 application is expanded to include the 11 most common languages spoken by English learner students and their parents.
Previously, users had the option to enter their tax information manually or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Beginning with 2024-25, all persons on the FAFSA must provide consent for the Department of Education to receive tax information or confirmation of non-filing status directly from the IRS. In a very small number of cases, students and families will have to enter their tax data manually, but for most, that data will be automatically transferred into the application. This change makes it easier to complete the FAFSA and reduces the number of questions to be answered.
A contributor—a new term being introduced on the 2024-25 FAFSA—refers to anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s form (such as a parent/stepparent or spouse). A student’s or parent’s answers on the FAFSA will determine which contributors (if any) will be required to provide information.
Contributors will receive an email informing them that they’ve been identified as such, and will need to log in using their own FSA ID (if they don’t already have one) to provide the required information on the student’s FAFSA.
Being a contributor does not mean they are financially responsible for the student’s education costs, but it does mean the contributor must provide information on the FAFSA or the application will be incomplete and the student will not be eligible for federal student aid.
A notable terminology update within the new FAFSA is the replacement of the term Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI). This name more accurately describes the number used to determine aid eligibility and, unlike the EFC, the SAI may be a negative number down to -1500.
Previously, the FAFSA calculated the number of household members attending college simultaneously into the EFC, dividing it proportionately to determine federal aid eligibility. Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA, the application will still ask how many household members are in college, but your answer will not be calculated into the SAI. As such, undergraduate Worcester State University students with siblings in college may see a change in their federal aid eligibility.
Families making less than 175% and single parents making less than 225% of the federal poverty level will see their students receive a maximum Pell Grant award. Minimum Pell Grants will be guaranteed to students from households below 275%, 325%, 350%, or 400% of the poverty level, depending on household structure. Pell awards between the maximum and minimum amounts will be determined by SAI.
For dependent students, financial information was previously needed from the parent(s) the student had lived with the most in the last 12 months. With the new FAFSA, financial information will be required from the parent(s) who provided the most financial support to the student.
When required, families must now report the value of their small business or family farm. If the family farm includes the principal place of residence, applicants should determine the total net value of all farm assets and subtract the net value of their principal residence to determine the final value of their farm assets.
Worcester State University has partnered with the MassEdCO Educational Opportunity Center to provide additional support to students and families needing assistance with the FAFSA process.
MassEdCO is offering virtual and in-person FAFSA assistance. To schedule an appointment please visit Worcester State EOC services
Prepare for the appointment by gathering and bringing with you the List of Needed Information for the 2024-25 FAFSA
While the FAFSA is receiving an update and the aid eligibility calculation has been revised, there are a number of aid-related matters that will not change.
The following timeline provides an overview of upcoming changes due to the FAFSA Simplification Act. Additional dates will be added as we learn more information.
If you are admitted to the University and have completed the financial aid process, you will receive an Estimated Financial Aid Award notification from the Financial Aid Office.
Returning students will not receive an Estimated Financial Aid Award notification.
If you have completed the financial aid process, you will receive a Financial Aid Award notification via Self Service account, notified through your Worcester State University email account.
