FAQ's 2024-2025 FAFSA

What is FAFSA?

The FAFSA form, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the form used to apply for federal financial aid. Completing the FAFSA form is the only way to access the largest source of financial aid—federal student aid—to help you pay for your education. Students who submit the FAFSA form may become eligible to receive scholarships, grants, work-study funds, and student loans. Schools use the information provided on the FAFSA form to calculate aid packages and then put together an aid offer. It’s important to submit a FAFSA form every year you plan to attend college or career/trade school to remain eligible and receive aid.

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What’s Changed for the 2024–25 FAFSA Form?

2024-2025 CHANGES
The FAFSA will be shorter and more user-friendly by reducing questions to just under 50.	Contributor and consent: You’ll notice a few new terms like contributor (anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA, a student spouse or parent, for example) and consent (each contributor will need to consent to their information being included on the FAFSA).
Starting 2024-25, parents and/or spouses who are not U.S. Citizens or Eligible Noncitizens can use their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to create an FSA ID. They will be able to report their income and tax information on the FAFSA and use their FSA ID account to electronically sign the FAFSA.	Tax/income data: Beginning with the 2024–2025 FAFSA, all contributors listing tax information on the FAFSA must provide consent to use the Direct Data Exchange (DDX), which will transfer tax information directly from the IRS. The DDX eases the process and reduces the number of questions you need to answer. If all contributors do not provide consent, your eligibility for federal student aid will not be calculated.
Student may list 20 colleges to receive their FAFSA application.	Contributor and consent: You’ll notice a few new terms like contributor (anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA, a student spouse or parent, for example) and consent (each contributor will need to consent to their information being included on the FAFSA).
FAFSA form will be expanded to the 11 most common languages spoken in the United States.	Student Aid Index (SAI): With the 2024–2025 FAFSA, the term "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC) will be replaced with the "Student Aid Index" (SAI). This is a new need analysis formula that we will use when awarding need-based grants (such as the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) and scholarships.

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Who Is a Contributor on the 2024–25 FAFSA Form?

A contributor is anyone required to provide information, a signature, and consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly into the FAFSA form. This may include the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or a stepparent. Contributors are not financially responsible for the student’s education. By providing consent and approval, a contributor’s federal tax information will be used to determine the student’s eligibility for federal student aid.

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Why Do My Contributors and I Need Our Own StudentAid.gov Accounts for the 2024–25 FAFSA Form?

Your StudentAid.gov account contains verified personal information, so each StudentAid.gov account can link to only one person.

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What Does It Mean To Provide Consent and Approval on the 2024–25 FAFSA Form?

Providing consent and approval on the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is a requirement for federal student aid eligibility.

When you and your contributors provide consent and approval on the FAFSA form, you agree to

share your personally identifiable information provided on the form with the IRS,
have your federal tax information transferred directly into the form,
allow the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to use the information to determine your eligibility for federal student aid,
allow ED to share your federal tax information with schools and state higher education agencies, and
allow ED to reuse federal tax information on other FAFSA forms you’re invited to.

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How Do I Complete the 2024–25 FAFSA Form If My Parents Are Divorced or Separated?

Parent information is required when completing and submitting the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form if you’re considered a dependent student. If your parents are divorced or separated, which parent’s information will be required is determined by whether your parents live together or not and which parent provided the most financial support.

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How Do I Create a StudentAid.gov Account If I Don’t Have a Social Security Number?

Starting in December 2023, you will be able to create a StudentAid.gov account even if you don’t have a Social Security number (SSN). To do so, you’ll follow the prompts on-screen to enter your information and select the “I don’t have a Social Security number” checkbox. Accounts created without an SSN have limited functionality. The only people who should create an account without an SSN are a student’s parent or spouse who doesn’t have an SSN or a student who’s a citizen of the Freely Associated States and needs to complete the FAFSA form online. You must have an SSN or be a citizen of the Freely Associated States to be eligible to receive federal student aid.

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How Do I Complete the 2024–25 FAFSA Form If My Parent Is a Noncitizen?

Your parent’s citizenship status will not affect your eligibility for federal student aid, but if you’re a dependent student, their information will be required on the FAFSA form. If your parent is identified as a contributor, they will need to create their own StudentAid.gov account to access your form. After they provide their information, their consent and approval to transfer federal tax information, and a signature, you’ll be able to complete and submit your FAFSA form.