With the new year comes the implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act that will affect every state that uses FAFSA data and those participating in federal student aid programs. According to studentaid.gov, the act is a total overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal aid.
According to Point Park Financial Aid Director George Santucci, the new act made FAFSA available later than usual in 2023 for students and families, officially opening on December 31.
“The FAFSA Simplification Act is a massive undertaking by the federal government and requires a total overhaul of the FAFSA application system,” Santucci said in a university wide email on December 4, 2023. He was contacted by The Globe for further comment but denied the request.
Here is the break down from studentaid.gov on the FAFSA changes students and parents can expect in 2024:
“1. Replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI)
Starting with the 2024–25 award year, students and families will see a different measure of their ability to pay for college, and they’ll experience a change in the methodology used to determine aid. The new analysis formula for need removes the quantity of family members from FAFSA calculation, allows a minimum SAI of -1500 and implements separate eligibility determination criteria for Federal Pell Grants.
- Modifications to Family Definitions in FAFSA Formulas
Expect changes in how a student’s family size is determined, aligning more with what was reported on the student’s/parents’ tax returns.
- Expanding Access to Federal Pell Grants
- The FAFSA Simplification Act will expand the Federal Pell Grant to more students and will link eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level (starting with the 2024–25 award year).
- Incarcerated students in federal and state penal facilities will regain the ability to receive a Federal Pell Grant (starting with the 2023–24 award year).
- Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility will be restored to students whose school closed while they were enrolled or if the school is found to have misled the student (starting with the 2023–24 award year).
- Streamlining the FAFSA Form
“Where possible, the law mandates that data received directly from the IRS is used to calculate Federal Pell Grant eligibility and the SAI. This data exchange is made possible by the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act (FUTURE Act), which will be implemented alongside FAFSA simplification starting with the 2024–25 award year. The FAFSA Simplification Act also removes questions about Selective Service registration and drug convictions. It also adds questions about applicants’ sex, race, and ethnicity, which have no effect on federal student aid eligibility (starting with the 2023–24 award year).”
In a January 3 email, Santucci urged students to get their FAFSA filled out as early as possible.
“If you plan on taking classes in August 2024 thru July 2025, this is a great time to complete your 2024- 2025 FAFSA at the federal government site www.studentaid.gov,” Santucci said. “Undergraduate Pennsylvania students need to complete this by May 1.”
Freshman SAEM major Sierra Graziosi views FAFSA as something that just needs to be completed. She said this spring will be her second time filling out the form.
“It’s something we have to do, we all want money for college,” Graziosi said. “People who are juniors and seniors probably think that it’s a chore because they have to do it so often.”
Graziosi has not yet filled out her FAFSA yet but plans to do it with her mom over spring break in February. Although, she said that she felt that the changes from FAFSA’s overhaul probably wouldn’t affect her situation.
Emily Kevech, a freshman forensic science major, felt that the changes also wouldn’t affect her situation.
“I don’t think it’s going to affect me because I don’t have any siblings that are in college at the moment,” Kevech said. “I don’t think that any of them are planning to go to college. I guess right now it doesn’t affect me but I’ll see when I fill it out.”
According to Santucci graduate students can complete this anytime because they are not eligible for the Federal Grant or PA State Grant. International students are not eligible for FAFSA.
In an email Santucci recommends students fill out FAFSA in January if they plan on taking classes August 2024 through July 2025, the deadline is May 1.
