CHANGES TO FAFSA
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FAFSA IS CHANGING, HERE'S WHAT TO DO


In late 2020 Congress passed omnibus legislation that included the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA Simplification Act. This Act streamlines FAFSA to a shorter, more straightforward format to give college students and their families improved access to federal aid.

The North Carolina A&T Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will communicate changes, share resources and training opportunities and ensure awareness for students and families to understand and complete the new, streamlined FAFSA. This page is Financial Aid's primary source of FAFSA news and resources for students, families and campus partners.


IMPORTANT DATES & NOTES

December Open Date
  • The 2024-25 FAFSA will open in December 2023.
    • Note: The FAFSA form will return to an Oct. 1 opening date for the 2025-26 award year on October 1, 2024. 
  • The North Carolina A&T FAFSA priority deadline is February 15, 2024.

FAFSA Form Changes

  • The FAFSA questions will be more aligned with federal income tax returns, and there will be an automatic transfer of income tax data to FAFSA.
  • The amount of questions have been slimmed down, from 108 to 36! 
FSA IDs & Consent
  • FAFSA now requires consent: Both students and parents, spouses, or other contributors must create an FSA ID before completing the form and log in separately to complete their sections and consent to their information being used on FAFSA.
    • Consent cannot be revoked, but must be given each time the FAFSA is filed.
    • The FSA ID will take up to 72 hours to receive, so students cannot request their FSA ID and complete the FAFSA in the same day.



 

 

 


GETTING READY

  • Make sure your FSA ID is ready
    • If you’ve filed before, you already have an FSA ID.
    • First-time filers must create an FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website.
    • An FSA ID is required to file a FAFSA. Students AND parents need one. If parents file their taxes separately, each needs their own FSA ID. If they file taxes jointly, they only need one FSA ID. 
    • New FSA IDs may take up to 3 days to be received. Plan ahead, so you're not caught short at deadline!
    • If you need to regain access to your FSA ID, this video on Troubleshooting Your Account Username and Password (FSA ID) can help.
  • File early
    • Be prepared to submit it as soon as it opens in December.
    • North Carolina A&T's FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline is February 15, 2024.
  • Embrace the changes
    • The FAFSA is now simpler and much easier to complete!
       

 


ADDITIONAL CHANGES

  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will now be replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI). These numbers are used to determine how much aid you are eligible for.
  • EFC was based on your family’s assets and income. SAI is instead based on your family’s assets, income, parent educational credits, and your zip code, which shows your area’s federal poverty level.

Starting with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, more students will be eligible for Pell grants than ever before! Pell is calculated based on your Student Aid Index (SAI). Your SAI measures your parents' income, your family size, how much you may be able to pay, and how much you need. Make sure you file your FAFSA to find out if you are Pell eligible!

Family farms and small businesses will have a greater impact on federal aid eligibility. The number of students a family has enrolled in college will no longer factor into the FAFSA calculation.

For divorced or separated parents, the parent who provided the most financial support in the last calendar year will now complete the FAFSA.

WHAT’S NEXT?
 

The Department of Education is finalizing additional details for the 2024-2025 FAFSA application. The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will provide updates as changes are formalized and resources become available. If you need assistance in the meantime, please reach out to finaid@ncat.edu.

For more detailed information about the FAFSA Simplification Act, visit the Federal Student Aid website.