What to know about changes to this year's FAFSA application for college students
A new version of the federal student aid application known as the FAFSA is available for the 2024-2025 school year, but only on a limited basis as the U.S. Department of Education works on a redesign meant to make it easier to apply
NEW YORK — A new version of the federal student aid application known as the FAFSA is available for the 2024-2025 school year, but only on a limited basis as the U.S. Department of Education works on a redesign meant to make it easier to apply.
That means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid students can usually fill out starting in October isn't yet available to everyone.
A soft launch period opened last week and the Department of Education said it will continue to make the new form available for short periods of time. Students who want to submit their applications now will need to monitor the studentaid.gov website since it's available at different times during the day.
Since the soft launch was announced, there has been limited availability and some students and their families have experienced glitches.
“Even by soft launch standards, this weekend’s rollout was challenging and students, families, and financial aid administrators who have been waiting for this release for months are understandably frustrated," said Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the department hopes to keep the application open for longer stretches as it resolves issues with the new form.
The relaunch brings major changes such as fewer questions, the ability to list more colleges and availability in more languages. However, the update means students will get their financial aid offers later than
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