A roadmap for the 2024-25 FAFSA Process has been released in GEN-23-17 which includes a timeline leading to the 2024-25 FAFSA becoming available in December 2023. The key dates are:
For Institutions and State Partners:
- New Needs Analysis Formula Tools – Spring 2023
- Provisional Final FAFSA Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) Layout – April 2023
- Policy Guidance – Spring through Fall 2023
- FAFSA Specification Guide – Beginning March 2023
- Financial Aid Administrator Training – Summer 2023
- Sample ISIR Datasets for Testing – July 2023
- Final ISIR Layout – October 2023
- FAFSA Demonstration Site – December 2023
- 2024-25 FAFSA Available – December 2023
For Counselors and Advocates:
- Financial Aid Estimator and Preview Tools – Summer 2023
- Counselor Training – Summer through Fall 2023
- Fact Sheets – Summer through Fall 2023
- 2024-25 FAFSA Available – December 2023
Students and Families:
- Preparing for 2024–25 FAFSA Outreach Campaign – Summer 2023
- Financial Aid Estimator and Preview Tools – Summer through Fall 2023
- FAFSA Information Updates on StudentAid.gov – Summer through Fall 2023
- 2024–25 FAFSA Available – December 2023
Stay tuned to the Financial Aid Toolkit website’s communication hub as it will include several training opportunities for the new FAFSA.
The full electronic announcement is below.
POSTED DATE March 21, 2023
AUTHOR Federal Student Aid
ELECTRONIC ANNOUNCEMENT ID GENERAL-23-17
SUBJECT Implementing the 2024–25 FAFSA Process
Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s (the Department) office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) published the Better FAFSA Better Future Roadmap (Roadmap), an implementation timeline of resources, guidance, and training materials for students and parents, schools and institutions, and other stakeholders about the redesigned 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The redesigned FAFSA form is the most ambitious and significant redesign of the federal student aid application and delivery in decades, and will significantly simplify how students, parents, and other educational stakeholders use the FAFSA form starting this year. The Roadmap outlines the series of resources and tools that will be available over the coming months to individuals who engage with and use the FAFSA form to apply for federal student aid, leading up to the launch of the revamped 2024–25 form, which is on track for December 2023. FSA has been working—and will continue to work—to launch a 2024–25 FAFSA form as early as possible and will provide updates if and when there are any timing developments.
The FAFSA Simplification Act and Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act requires FSA and our various partners to adopt important changes to the FAFSA process that will support students and families and make their federal student aid experience smoother.
The Roadmap outlines important resources for all of our partners.
For students and parents, FSA will
- carry out the Better FAFSA Better Future campaign, which spreads awareness of the changes to the FAFSA process and form;
- update StudentAid.gov, to include revised FAFSA help articles and tools such as the Federal Student Aid Estimator;
- conduct outreach and tutorials about obtaining an FSA ID; and
- expand language-specific resources and translation services to the 11 most common languages spoken in the U.S.
For schools and states, FSA will
- issue policy guidance about expanded Federal Pell Grant eligibility, FAFSA data use, cybersecurity, school reporting requirements, the transition from Expected Family Contribution to the Student Aid Index (SAI), and more;
- update technical references and specifications;
- issue an updated Federal Student Aid Handbook for the 2024–25 award year;
- publish a dedicated FAFSA Simplification Information landing page on the FSA Partner Connect Knowledge Center website; and
- conduct summer trainings for financial aid professionals.
For college access professionals, FSA will
- launch a communication campaign and information hub on the Financial Aid Toolkit website to help counselors understand and communicate changes to students and their families;
- issue tutorial videos, a FAFSA preview site, and a Federal Student Aid Estimator to prepare and support students;
- conduct federal financial aid virtual bootcamps; and
- execute training sessions specifically for college access professionals.
For system vendors, FSA will
- issue Institutional Student Information Record tests and record layouts in machine readable formats;
- publish an expanded SAI calculation and Pell Grant eligibility guide;
- update technical references and specifications; and
- conduct software vendor focus group sessions.
The release of the Better FAFSA Better Future Roadmap demonstrates the Department’s commitment to support our partners as we implement a more modernized end-to-end FAFSA process for the 2024–25 award year and work together to ensure that students receive the support they need to complete the FAFSA form.
The Roadmap resources are responsive to consultations with our partners. We will continue to get feedback from our partners to ensure everyone is fully prepared for the launch of the FAFSA form, and that students benefit from the changes that the revamped FAFSA form will bring.
To mitigate impacts of this one-time schedule shift and emphasize our continued commitment to both partners and applicants, the Department will continue our progress toward full implementation as described below.
Early Implementation of Changes for the 2023–24 Award Year Will Continue
On Nov. 4, 2022, FSA published a Dear Colleague Letter providing additional guidance for the requirements of the FAFSA Simplification Act that the Department is implementing for the 2023–24 award year. These include changes to cost of attendance, professional judgment, and independent student status that must be implemented by July 1, 2023. These changes will continue to apply to the 2024–25 award year.
The Department recognizes our responsibility to applicants and borrowers to provide a stable, secure, and streamlined FAFSA experience. Given the unprecedented complexity of creating the new form, including a new streamlined application flow for students and parents; and a process for securely retrieving tax data directly from the Internal Revenue Service, FSA’s top priority is ensuring a successful launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA season. We also recognize that to successfully implement the remaining provisions of the FUTURE Act and FAFSA Simplification Act, schools and software vendors will need sufficient time and resources to develop and implement the technical and operational changes. The Department will continue to work with our partners to effectively plan and communicate the extensive changes to applicants, borrowers, and their families in advance of the launch of the FAFSA form in December. FSA has been working—and will continue to work—to launch a 2024–25 FAFSA form as early as possible and will provide updates if and when there are any timing developments.
Early Implementation Provisions Related to the Federal Pell Grant Program Will Not be Delayed
Implementing these provisions includes restoring Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used due to loan discharges for impacted students and expanding Pell Grant eligibility for students who are confined or incarcerated.
The FAFSA Form Will Return to Oct. 1 for the 2025–26 Award Year
The Department plans to open the 2025–26 form to applicants on Oct. 1, 2024.
Sources:
(GENERAL-23-17) Implementing the 2024–25 FAFSA Process