FAFSA Simplification

• An overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal aid

• Replacing Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI)

• Modifications to Family Definitions in the FAFSA Formulas

• Expanding Access to Federal Pell Grants

• Streamlining the FAFSA Form

• FAFSA must be completed within 45 days of starting or it will be deleted

Tips & Links!

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) studentaid.gov for financial aid consideration

Apply using 2025 tax information

March 1, 2027:  Priority for completion (but many schools want this done sooner for scholarship purposes)

Parent and student both must create FSA ID to electronically sign the FAFSA

• Invite Your Parents to Complete the FAFSA

• Remind them when you send them their invitation

• FAFSA can’t be completed until they finish their sections

Link to CSS/Profile:   https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

Article on filling out CSS Profile: https://goingmerry.com/blog/css-profile/