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.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA and 2024-25 WASFA are now available. Please visit StudentAid.gov to learn more and find resources for completing the 2024-2025 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.

The U.S. Department of Education has informed colleges and universities that they will not receive student financial aid data until mid-March, four months later than usual. This will prevent our financial aid office from notifying students of their financial aid information for the 2024-25 academic year until mid-June at the earliest.

Here are a few answers to frequently asked questions about the status of the new FAFSA/WASFA:

Please don’t give up hope! There is more financial aid available than ever before this year in the form of expanded eligibility for grants.

  • Apply for 2024-25 financial aid online using the FAFSA form. The FAFSA opened later than normal, but it’s now available for all. The sooner you complete your 2024-25 FAFSA, the sooner we’ll get it from U.S. Department of Education. This is especially important for students who plan to enroll for summer quarter.
  • If you’re ineligible to use the FAFSA (for example, due to citizenship or immigration status), submit a Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) financial aid application
  • Beware of phishing attempts to capture your financial aid login information, for both you and your “contributors.”
  • Attend one of YVC’s upcoming financial aid workshops. On the dates below, financial aid staff will help students and their families complete their FAFSA or WASFA application. These workshops are free and open to the public, with assistance available in English and Spanish. Tamales will be available to those participating in the workshops, to enjoy on-site or take home.

Yakima Campus
 April 17 and May 22
 2 – 6 p.m. | Deccio Building #8, Room 210

Grandview Campus
 April 16 and May 21
 1:30  – 4:30 p.m. | Grandview Main, Building #56, Room 123

  • Can’t make it to a workshop? You can also reach out directly to the Financial Aid office by emailing finaid@yvcc.edu, by calling 509-574-6855, or by visiting in person Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., on the Yakima Campus. In-person support on the Grandview Campus is available Tuesdays from 1 – 5 p.m.

The new 2024-25 FAFSA is the most significant revamping of the FAFSA form since the 1980s. Benefits include:

  • Shorter application: The FAFSA application is now shorter and, for many people, easier to complete.
  • More federal aid: More people are eligible to receive federal Pell Grants, and the average grant is expected to be larger.
  • Generous state aid: In Washington state, the Washington College Grant gives eligible people more money for more types of education like certificate programs, job training, apprenticeships, and degrees. The FAFSA form you fill out will also help Washington state determine your eligibility for the Washington College Grant.

Two big issues are causing delays in processing financial aid applications. First, the U.S. Department of Education started sending out students’ financial aid information months later than usual. Second, it’s taking time for higher education institutions to reconfigure financial aid processing software for the way data is now being delivered under the new FAFSA.

Here in Washington, community and technical colleges use PeopleSoft financial aid software, which is owned by Oracle. Instead of every college owning its own version of PeopleSoft, the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges manages the software for all 34 colleges, a system it calls ctcLink. The State Board is waiting for Oracle to provide bug-free updates before the State Board can localize the software for Washington’s community and technical college system. And even when the Oracle update happens, the State Board will need about six to eight weeks for migration, configuration, security analysis, and testing.

Until Oracle fixes glitches and the State Board updates and tests the software, no community or technical college in Washington can process student financial information and provide financial aid awards. At this point, the State Board estimates that it will complete its work by early- to mid-June, which means our college must wait until then to use the software.

All higher education institutions are facing software predicaments, regardless of which software they use to deliver and process financial aid.

As noted above, financial aid staff are offering workshops in April and May to help students and their families complete their FAFSA or WASFA application. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of the one-on-one assistance that is available at these workshops.

If you can’t make it to a workshop, you can reach out directly to the Financial Aid office by emailing finaid@yvcc.edu, by calling 509-574-6855, or by visiting in person Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., on the Yakima Campus. In-person support on the Grandview Campus is available Tuesdays from 1 – 5 p.m.

The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is for people who are undocumented or who do not qualify for federal financial aid but may qualify for state financial aid (the Washington College Grant). It can also be used by others in certain limited situations. The 2024-25 WASFA is open now and, like the FAFSA, it will have fewer questions and a simpler form. However, the FAFSA delays are also causing WASFA delays.

We understand the stress financial aid delays are causing and are exploring all options to help financial aid applicants through these difficult times. We will continue to provide updates on this webpage as we learn more.

Learn More About FAFSA

Here are a few steps you can take to prepare to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA:

  • 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.
  • See how the FAFSA Simplification changes impact what you may qualify for. Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to see what you may now be eligible for.
  • New users to the WASFA can create a WASFA account on their website to prepare for the 2024-2025 application.
  • 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.

  • Need help completing your FAFSA or WASFA application?

    Assistance available in English and Spanish.

    Yakima Campus
    Dates: February 21, March 6, April 17, May 22
    Event Details: 2 – 6 p.m. | Deccio Building #8, Rm 210

    Grandview Campus
    Dates: February 13 and March 5, April 16, May 21
    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 • 17 de Abril • 22 de Mayo
    2 – 6 p.m. • Edificio Deccio #8, habitación numero 210

    Campus de Grandview
    16 de enero, 24 de febrero , 5 de marzo, 17 de Abril, 21 de Mayo
    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

Food Provided to Participants

Participating students/families can enjoy free Tamales during the workshop or take them home for later.

Tamales are provided by Yakima Valley Partners for Education.

Resources