FAFSA Simplification
Please note that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is changing for the 2024-2025 aid year due to recent federal legislation.
Instead of opening in October, the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not be available until December 2023. This is only temporary for 2024. After the 2024-2025 aid year, the FAFSA will be available in October as usual.
The 2024-2025 WASFA Application will open in December 2023 at the same time as the FAFSA.
The following changes will take place:
- The FAFSA application process will be streamlined and easier for students to complete.
- New terminology will be added to the FAFSA.
- Eligibility for federal financial aid will be expanded.
Prepare for the FAFSA
While the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not be available until December, you can still prepare by doing the following:
- Create an FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website and assist contributors, such as your parent(s) or spouse, in creating an FSA ID.
- An FSA ID is an account and password that gives you access to the Federal Student Aid’s online system and serves as your electronic signature.
- With the FSA ID, you can fill out the FAFSA when it’s available, sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), apply for repayment plans, complete loan counseling, and use the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Help Tool.
- New users to the WASFA can create a WASFA account on their website to prepare for the 2024-2025 application.
New Terminology and Information
- FAFSA is introducing the new term ‘contributor’, which is anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form. This includes the student, the student’s spouse, a parent (biological or adopted), or the parent’s spouse. Being a contributor does not imply responsibility for a student’s college costs.
- Student’s will need the contributor’s name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and email address to send contributors an invitation to complete the required portion of the FAFSA
- Contributors will need to provide their personal and financial information on their section of the FAFSA.
- All Contributors must provide consent to have tax data transferred directly from the IRS to the FAFSA. If consent is not provided by all parties, the student will not be eligible for federal financial aid. Transferring IRS data was optional previously. It is now required.
- The need analysis formula to determine financial aid, formerly known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), will now be referred to as the Student Aid Index (SAI). Unlike the EFC, the SAI may be a negative number.
- Small businesses and family farms are now considered assets.
- The number of family members in college will still be asked on the FAFSA, but it will be excluded from the federal, state, and institutional financial aid calculation.
- The Student Aid Report (SAR) will now be referred to as the FAFSA Submission Summary. This is the summary submission document you receive after completing the FAFSA.
FAFSA/WASFA Workshops
Need help completing your FAFSA or WASFA application?
Assistance available in English and Spanish.
Yakima Campus
Dates: January 24, February 21 and March 6
Event Details: 2 – 6 p.m. | Deccio Building #8, Rm 210
Grandview Campus
Dates: January 16, February 13 and March 5
Event Details:1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Grandview Main, Building #56, 123
Virtual Sessions
Dates: January 18 and February 29
Event Details: 2 – 6 p.m. | Join Virtual Sessions via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87194094390
Sesiones de Ayuda Financiera
¿Necesita ayuda para completar su aplicación de FAFSA o WASFA? Asistencia disponible en ingles y español.
Campus de Yakima
24 de enero • 21 de febrero • 6 de marzo
2 – 6 p.m. • Edificio Deccio #8, habitación numero 210
Campus de Grandview
16 de enero, 24 de febrero , 5 de marzo
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Edificio Principal de Grandview #56, habitación numero 123
Sesiones Virtuales
18 de enero, 29 de febrero
2 – 6 p.m. | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87194094390