2024-25 FAFSA
2024-25 FAFSA Information
Beginning with the 2024-25 year, revisions to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) represent the most significant changes made to the FAFSA in decades. The FAFSA Simplification Act, which was passed by Congress in 2020, prioritized simplifying the FAFSA application process, resulting in many changes to how aid eligibility is determined, effective with the 2024-25 academic year.
SOME CHANGES TO THE FAFSA
One of the key improvements is the simplification of the FAFSA itself as the maximum number of questions will be reduced significantly. Additionally, not all students will need to answer all of the questions due to the FAFSA's dynamic nature on the web.
Beginning with the 2024-25 year, contributors to the FAFSA, [students, spouses, and parents] submitting prior-prior year [2022] tax information on the FAFSA will need to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) to retrieve their tax information or non-filing status. As a result, there may be fewer questions that need to be answered. Therefore, contributors to the FAFSA with tax information reported must obtain an FSA ID.
The 2024-25 FAFSA will now calculate a Student Aid Index (SAI) and no longer utilize the Expected Family Contribution [EFC]. The SAI, unlike the EFC, may be a negative number, with a minimum amount of -1500.
Previously, the FAFSA calculated the number of household members attending college into the EFC, dividing it proportionately to determine aid eligibility. Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA, the number of household members in college will not be calculated into the SAI to determine aid eligibility. This decision was made by Congress and may only be modified by Congress.
In some instances, contributors to the FAFSA will be required to report the value of their farms or small businesses. Contributors to the FAFSA who qualify must disclose their farm/small business worth on the 2024-25 FAFSA, and they may factor into the SAI calculation.
ITEMS THAT ARE NOT CHANGING
The FAFSA will continue to be a mandatory application for federal aid consideration, as well as for determining need-based institutional and state aid eligibility.
The questions determining whether parents need to complete the FAFSA along with the student will remain the same.
The FAFSA will still require tax information from the prior-prior year, [2022]. However, families experiencing significant reductions in income may explore the Special Circumstances process to ensure their current financial situation is considered.
Degree-seeking students who complete the FAFSA and are not in default on their previous student loans, have not yet met their aggregate limit, and have met all other eligibility criteria will remain eligible for student loan amounts.
Students will need to complete the FAFSA each year, utilizing prior-prior year tax and income information. Families with special circumstances, such as reduced income in the current year, may review the information on the Special Circumstances process.
The questions regarding an applicant's sex, race, and ethnicity will have no effect on federal student aid eligibility but are included for statistical purposes and data collection only.
It is essential for both new and returning students and their families to prioritize completing the 2024-25 FAFSA.
Kettering will make every effort to begin awarding financial aid to new students with completed FAFSAs as soon as possible. We will provide detailed anticipated timelines/deadlines on this webpage.
When to Expect Offer Letters?
Awards for new students will begin awarding with completed FAFSAs as soon as the systems are ready.
Awards for returning students with completed FAFSAs will be made before the end of the spring term.
Graduate students applying for Direct Unsubsidized loans with completed FAFSAs will be processed on an ongoing basis once the systems are ready.
Please note that the U.S. Department of Education is implementing changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA application and process, and the information provided on this Webpage will be updated as further details become available.