2024 - 2025 FAFSA Changes

The FAFSA will reduce the maximum number of questions from 108 to 46. And because the FAFSA on the Web is dynamic, some students won't even be presented with all 46 questions. This streamlined format will simplify the application process and make it less daunting for students and their families.

Currently, the FAFSA is only available in English and Spanish. The 2024-25 application will be expanded to include the 11 most common languages spoken by English learner students and their parents.

Students now have the option to select up to 20 colleges, career schools, or trade schools to share their FAFSA information. 

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. This process effectively eliminates what is known as the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) used in older versions of the FAFSA.

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 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, Waubonsee 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 Federal 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.

If you or your parents do not have an email account established, you should create one. There are no requirements or recommendations on which email domain to use. Once created, save your email address and password in a safe place so you are able to regularly check for important communications from Federal Student Aid. All contributors will need to add an email address for their StudentAid.gov account creation. Note that applicants and students should have an email account other than their school issued email account.

Students and parents (or spouses) should create a StudentAid.gov account.

Students and parents (or spouses) will need to create an FSA ID, which they use as their signature for all electronic documentation through Federal Student Aid.

Explore Waubonsee's Scholarship website for key application dates and external scholarship opportunities.

The Financial Aid Estimator will help you determine which forms of Federal Student Aid you may qualify ahead of completing the FAFSA.