Because of significant U.S. Department of Education processing delays, student’s FAFSA data has just been delayed until April. Husson anticipates awarding students beginning in mid-May. Students interested in receiving a financial aid estimate can visit our Net Price Calculator. We thank our students and families for your patience during this transition period for the new FAFSA.
The FAFSA Simplification Act, approved by Congress in 2020, stands as a substantial revamp of the mechanisms and infrastructure employed in the allocation of federal student assistance. This encompasses modifications to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, alterations in the need assessment process used to establish eligibility for federal aid, shifts in terminology, and numerous policy and procedural adjustments for educational institutions engaged in federal student aid initiatives.
See what Federal Aid you might qualify for here (note this is not the FASFA).
What can I expect with the new changes?
The FAFSA Simplification Act brings a number of advantages, such as streamlining the application process for FAFSA, enhancing the user experience, broadening eligibility for federal student aid, and lowering obstacles for specific student demographics like homeless and unaccompanied youth, incarcerated students, English language learners, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Among the new changes are, but not limited to:
The FAFSA is trimming down the questionnaire, going from a hefty 108 questions to just 46. An additional benefit is that the online FAFSA adapts, so not every student will have to deal with all 46 questions. This new, sleeker format is all about making the application process a lot less intimidating for students and their families.
At the moment, the FAFSA is offered exclusively in English and Spanish. However, starting with the 2024-25 application, it will be expanded to include the 11 most frequently spoken languages among English learner students and their parents.
You may now list up to 20 colleges or universities on your FAFSA application.
In the past, FAFSA applicants could choose between manually entering their tax details or using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. However, starting in the 2024-25 application cycle, everyone applying for FAFSA will need to grant consent for the Department of Education to receive their tax information or confirmation of non-filing status directly from the IRS. While there may be a rare few cases where students and families still need to manually input their tax data, for the majority, this information will be seamlessly transferred into the application. This change simplifies the FAFSA process and reduces the number of questions you'll need to answer.
In the upcoming 2024-25 FAFSA, a new term, "contributor," is introduced. This refers to individuals who are required to furnish information on a student's application, like a biological parent, adoptive parent, stepparent, or spouse. The specific responses given by the student or parent on the FAFSA will determine which contributors, if any, are required to provide information.
Once identified as contributors, individuals will receive an email notification, prompting them to log in with their own FSA ID (or create one if they don't already have it) to submit the necessary information on the student's FAFSA.
It's crucial to note that being a contributor doesn't imply financial responsibility for the student's education expenses. However, it does mean that the contributor must provide the required information on the FAFSA to ensure the application is complete and the student remains eligible for federal student aid.
One significant terminology change in the updated FAFSA involves replacing the term "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC) with the "Student Aid Index" (SAI). This new label better reflects the figure utilized to assess aid eligibility. Unlike the EFC, the SAI has the potential to be a negative number, extending as low as -1500.
In the past, when processing the FAFSA, the number of household members attending college was factored into the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). It was divided proportionally to determine eligibility for federal aid. However, starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA, the application will still inquire about the number of household members in college, but this information will not be factored into the Student Aid Index (SAI). Consequently, undergraduate students at Husson who have siblings in college might notice a change in their eligibility for federal financial aid.
Families with more than one student attending college may qualify for a financial aid appeal. The student or parent must contact the financial aid office after the FAFSA has been completed, to initiate that process.
Each appeal will be evaluated on an individual, case-by-case basis and will require complete documentation. If it can be shown that additional students in college represent a significant financial hardship, then the Financial Aid may be recalculated using Professional Judgement guidance as set forth by the Department of Education.
A form to submit to your documentation is forthcoming.
When necessary, families are now obligated to disclose the value of their small business or family farm. In cases where the family farm serves as the primary residence, applicants should calculate the overall net worth of all farm assets and then subtract the net value of their primary residence to arrive at the final value of their farm assets.
Families with incomes below 175% of the federal poverty level and single parents with incomes less than 225% of the federal poverty level will ensure their students receive the maximum Federal Pell Grant award. For students from households falling below 275%, 325%, 350%, or 400% of the poverty level, depending on their family structure, they can expect to receive at least a minimum Pell Grant. Pell Grant amounts falling between the maximum and minimum levels will be determined based on the Student Aid Index (SAI).
In the past, for dependent students, financial information was required from the parent(s) the student had lived with the most in the last 12 months. However, with the new FAFSA, financial information will now be needed from the parent(s) who provided the most financial support to the student.
When should I submit my application for the 2024-25 FAFSA?
New students intending to start their classes at Husson in the fall of 2024 should aim to fill out the FAFSA as soon as it's accessible in December. As for returning Husson students, it's advisable to complete the FAFSA by the priority deadline of April 15th. You can find more details about the application process for both undergraduate and graduate students on our website.
For more information
Name |
Phone and Email | Address |
---|---|---|
Financial Aid |
207.941.7156 finaid@husson.edu |
1st Floor O'Donnell Commons 1 College Circle Bangor, Maine 04401 |