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
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) studentaid.gov for financial aid consideration
Apply using 2024 tax information
March 1, 2026: Priority for completion
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/
FAFSA Available September 2025
Once student’s submit it will lock and no corrections can be made until February
Schools won’t receive student FAFSA’s until end of January
Verification selections will be notified at that time
Awarding should begin in the middle of March, 2026