Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form
The 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is now available. See the information below for more details about how to complete the FAFSA.
FAFSA requires students and their contributor(s) to have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). Before you start your FAFSA, you’ll need to create a user ID and password. The FSA ID will be your login for all federal student aid websites.
Here are some resources to help you create your FSA ID and avoid some common errors.
Create Your FSA ID - Video
Suggested audience: 12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) who do not yet have an FSA ID.
In Minnesota, ALL students should apply for financial aid using one of two applications! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most commonly used form - and is for students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. Click on the link to the left to complete the FAFSA form online to apply for federal financial aid.
Here are some resources to help you.
Before you start the FAFSA, review the checklist found here.
Apply for Financial Aid - FAFSA - Video
Suggested audience: 12th grade students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, and their parent(s)/guardian(s)
FAFSA Student Aid Index Update and Timeline
On Jan. 30, the U.S. Department of Education (US DOE) announced that colleges and universities will receive 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applicant data beginning in the first half of March. Initially, US DOE had announced institutions and state agencies would begin to receive data by the end of January 2024. This new timeline is up to six weeks later and will cause an additional delay for college-bound students and families to receive financial aid offers, which will likely occur in early to mid-April.
We want to acknowledge the stress and anxiety that the current challenges are causing students and families, college access staff, as well as higher education institutions. US DOE is working to ensure that students and families receive all the financial aid they are eligible for.
The State of Minnesota is fortunate to have a filing deadline of June 30 of the school year in question, allowing for more time for students to complete the FAFSA and receive primary sources of federal and state-based aid, specifically the Federal Pell Grant and Minnesota State Grant. For the upcoming 2024-25 academic year, a student has a deadline of June 30th, 2025.
We anticipate that the Minnesota Dream Act Application will be available by mid-February 2024. The filing deadline of the Dream Act aligns with FAFSA, June 30.
This most recent FAFSA data delay means:
Colleges and universities across the country will not have the information they need to calculate eligibility for need-based federal, state and university-based financial aid until after they receive this information in the first half of March.
Students will receive financial aid offers much later than anticipated, which compresses the timeframe that students and families can weigh options and make informed decisions with aid offer information.
The traditional May 1st commitment deadline will need to be flexible. National College Decision Day traditionally lands on the first day of May each year. Students should check the website of the institutions they are interested in, as some deadlines may have shifted.
Students should still complete the FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act as soon as possible. More than 3.1 million FAFSA forms have been submitted since the form opened on Dec. 30. US DOE is continuing to work to ensure students and families are able to access and complete the stable and secure form. Use these tips to successfully complete your FAFSA form.
There continue to be issues for populations of students who are unable to file the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Contributors without a Social Security Number cannot access or complete the FAFSA.
Corrections to the FAFSA, by the student or the school, will not be able to be made until sometime after the FAFSA data has been sent out.
Need Assistance?
The Federal Student Aid Information Center’s number is 1-800-433-3243 (1-800-4-FED AID) has extended service hours for January through April:
Monday-Friday 7:00am-9:00pm CT
Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm CT
Closed Sundays and Federal Holidays
Additionally, Minnesota Office of Higher Education Financial Aid staff can help answer questions about the application or process. The number to call is 651-642-0567. Select option 2. The line is answered Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm.