FAFSA更新 and Answers

FAFSA 2024/2025

The significant improvements to the 2024–25 FAFSA form expand 资格 for federal student aid, helping an estimated 610,000 more students get Federal Pell 奖助金. 收件人 will receive more aid, with nearly 1.5 million additional students receiving the maximum 佩尔助学金. The new FAFSA form also provides a streamlined user experience for students and their families. Millions of students and families will benefit from the Department’s effort to streamline 联邦助学金免费申请表 experience, so applicants only see relevant questions based on the answers they provide.

You may have questions regarding these changes. Our financial aid department is here to help answer any questions. Please feel free to contact finaid@chinaartune.com or (616) 632-2893.

 

File the 2024-25 FAFSA 

Completing 联邦助学金免费申请表 is the best way to maximize a student’s potential financial aid 资格.  The State of Michigan also uses this information to determine 资格 for state grants, so students do not need a separate application for state aid. 

FILE THE FAFSA NOW

 

Delays in 金融援助 Packages

In their most recent press release, the Department of Education states they are targeting early to mid-March to send FAFSA information to ALL institutions. 

Because all institutions need this information to create financial aid packages, complete 金融援助 offers for students and families will be delayed as well.  

Once Aquinas has received FAFSA information from the Department of Education, we will package and send out a 金融援助 offer as soon as possible to assist students and families in determining the true cost of attending Aquinas 大学.  

 

More Information about the 2024/2025 FAFSA

  • The FAFSA will be available this year in December 2023 instead of Oct. 1.
  • The FAFSA will be streamlined and more user-friendly with fewer questions.
  • The Student 援助 Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
  • Federal aid 资格 will be extended to more students. 
  • IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) makes entering tax information easier and will require students, spouses, and parents to transfer their 2022 tax information or non-filing 状态.
  • The number of family members in college will no longer factor in到FAFSA calculation.
  • Untaxed items such as payments to tax-deferred retirement or pension plans, veteran’s non-educational benefits, and worker’s compensation will no longer be required.
  • Parent assets will now include the net worth of all businesses and the net worth of a family farm, if applicable.
  • For divorced or separated parents: The parent who provided the most financial support to the student will need to provide their information. Previously, the parent whom the student lived with the most provided their information.
  • Everyone contributing 到FAFSA form online must have an account on the Federal Student 援助 (FSA) website. Each contributor, including the student, will access their account with their own FSA ID (account username and password).

Student 援助 Index (SAI): Calculated by FAFSA data and will determine student aid 资格. 这个替代 the EFC that was used in previous years.

成本 of Attendance (COA): COA includes tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies (including course materials and equipment), miscellaneous expenses, and transportation. 

贡献者: A parent, step-parent, student, or spouse of the student who is providing information 到FAFSA. 

同意: Required from all contributors in order for the IRS to share tax data directly to 联邦助学金免费申请表. If any contributor does not provide consent, the student will automatically be ineligible for aid.

Direct Data Exchange (DDX): Previously known as IRS Data Retrieval; this tool imports tax data directly from the IRS to your FAFSA.

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS): A summary of your completed FAFSA information. 这个替代 the Student 援助 Report (SAR) that was used in previous years.

(Source: Michigan Student 援助)

有一个 Federal Student 援助 Youtube Channel with lots of great resources and the latest information. Check out their video explaining the 2024/2025 FAFSA changes below.

 

常见问题解答

What information will I need to complete 联邦助学金免费申请表?

Students and any other contributors require a Federal Student 援助 (FSA) ID. 

获得fsa id

The parent who provides the most financial support to the student should be the contributor.  If that parent is remarried, their spouse will also need to be included in the parent information section.

很可能不会.  The Department of Education will not be sending FAFSA information to institutions until mid-March, so we will not be able to confirm receipt of FAFSA, make corrections, or start awarding financial aid until after they are delivered.

Any student who requires a contributor’s information and does not consent and agree to share that information will have an incomplete and rejected FAFSA form.  学生 will not be considered for any federal-based financial aid.  This applies to Michigan residents for state aid as well.

Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle (late December), which will require individuals – regardless of their citizenship 状态 – to have an Student援助.政府账户 to access and sign 联邦助学金免费申请表 form. This announcement describes the process for individuals without a social security number (SSN) to successfully create their Student援助.政府账户.
 
For several years, the Department of Education (Department) has partnered with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify individuals' identity used in the Student援助.政府 account creation process. This partnership with SSA is the primary method by which the Department verifies an individual's identity and creates a Student援助.政府账户. If SSA is unable to verify the identity of an individual (e.g., SSN does not match), the Department has created a secondary identity verification process, which requires individuals to answer knowledge-based questions through a partnership with TransUnion®.
 
Individuals who do not possess an SSN (who fail the SSA match), as well as individuals who fail the TransUnion® verification processes will be required to complete the Student援助.政府 account creation process specifically developed for those without an SSN.
 
Student援助.政府 Account Creation Instructions (step-by-step) for Individuals Without a Social Security Number (SSN)
 
This process outlines the steps needed in order for an individual without an SSN to have their identity verified and Student援助.政府账户 created.
 
Step 1: An individual should visit Student援助.政府, select “Create Account” and complete all steps, including answering 1-4 knowledge-based verification questions via TransUnion®.
 
Step 2: Upon completing the Create Account process, the individual will see a confirmation page with the results of their identity verification. If they fail the TransUnion® process, FSA will automatically assign a case number to the individual.
 
Step 3: Once the case number is created, FSA will send them a verification email in their preferred language (English or Spanish), which will include their case number, along with guidance on how to submit copies of unexpired acceptable 文档 (listed below) to verify their identity. Individuals will also be required to submit an attestation and validation of identity form along with their approved identity 文档. This form will be available on http://studentaid.gov/forms-library.
 
接受able Documents to Establish an Individual’s Identity:
 
Provide one (1) of the following documents to establish identity:
  • U.S. 驾照
  • U.S. State/City Identification Card
  • 外国护照
OR
Provide one (1) set of documents below to establish identity:
  • Municipal Identification Cards + utility bill
  • Community ID + utility bill
  • Consular Identification Cards/Matricula Consular + utility bill
Step 4: Upon receipt of the email that FSA was unable to verify their identity, an individual is then required to submit one or a combination of their acceptable 文档 from the list above and a signed attestation form to: IDVerification@ed.政府.
 
Step 5: FSA will review an individual’s submitted 文档 and signed attestation form to ensure it is acceptable and matches the account information provided during the Create Account process. If there is a successful match, the Department will finalize the account creation. The individual will receive an email indicating their identity has been verified and that they may now use their account username and password (FSA ID)登入 Student援助.gov and complete applications for student financial assistance programs.