2025-26 FAFSA Updates

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.

Beginning with the 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.