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The 2024-2025 FAFSA is Changing!
Simplifying the financial aid application process: the FAFSA Simplification Act is an initiative by the United States Department of Education to make applying for federal student aid easier for students. As a result, the 2024-2025 FAFSA will open in December 2023.
This process is the first major redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process in over 40 years. It represents a significant overhaul of federal student aid, including the FAFSA form, need analysis, storage of federal student aid application data, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in the Title IV programs.
The process for the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) will include some of the changes from the new FAFSA, both of which will be implemented for the 2024–2025 award year. All students must complete either the FAFSA or CADAA to be considered for federal student aid.
The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships is dedicated to keeping students, families, supporters and our campus community updated. We will continue to update this webpage as we receive more information from the Department of Education.
When will the 2024-2025 FAFSA become available?
The 2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA will be available in December 2023. The exact date has not yet been released by the Department of Education and CSAC.
Frequently Asked Questions
“FAFSA® Simplification Act: On Dec. 27, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The law includes provisions that amend the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act and includes the FAFSA Simplification Act—a sweeping redesign of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. Specifically, the law makes it easier for students and families to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and expands access to federal student aid.”
- The number of questions on the FAFSA has decreased from over 100 to less than 50.
- The EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) is now the Student Aid Index (SAI).
- Students can list up to 20 schools on their FAFSA via the online application.
- Applicants will be asked to report their sex, race, and ethnicity on the FAFSA itself, but students will be offered a choice of “Prefer Not to Answer”. Schools and states won’t see responses to these questions on the FAFSA.
- The Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) has been renamed the Federal Taxpayer Information (FTI)
- Students, spouses, parents, and stepparents will now need to provide their consent in the new Consent to Retrieve and Disclose Federal Tax Information section of the FAFSA for federal student aid eligibility.
- This consent will allow the IRS to share FTI.
- If any party to the FAFSA form does not provide consent, submission of the form will still be allowed. However, a Student Aid Index (SAI) will not be calculated.
The 2024-2025 FAFSA process is going to look a bit different than it was in the past and just like the name says, FAFSA Simplification, we expect the process to be easier for students and parents.
- Mark your calendar for December 2023 – we’ll update this page once we know the official date that you can complete your 2024-2025 FAFSA.
- Create your FAFSA ID today.