How the FAFSA’s grandparent ‘loophole’ works The simplified FAFSA form now uses a new calculation called the “Student Aid Index” to estimate how much a family can afford to pay. Previously, many factors went into how much aid students receive, including the total number of people in the household and the number of children in … Read more
PeopleImages | E+ | Getty Images Above all else, the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid was designed to improve college access. However, problems with the rollout have left many students and their families frustrated with fewer students applying overall. As of the last tally, nearly 4 million students have submitted the 2024-25 FAFSA form so … Read more
The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday it is introducing a “FAFSA College Support Strategy” with additional personnel, funding, resources and technology to help colleges process the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms after the rollout was repeatedly complicated by a number of setbacks. “We are determined to get this right,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel … Read more
The U.S. Department of Education says it plans to update a key part of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid formula, which will result in $1.8 billion more in aid for college-bound students this year. The announcement comes weeks after the simplified FAFSA soft launched Dec. 30 after a monthslong delay. Since then, the 2024-25 form … Read more
For many families, financial aid is crucial when it comes to affording college. But students must first fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to access any assistance, including student loans, work study and grants. And this year, a new FAFSA form has been plagued by problems. “It does seem consistent with a process that was rushed … Read more
A new Free Application for Federal Student Aid soft launched over the holiday weekend with much anticipation after a long delay. However, for now, the 2024–25 FAFSA form is only available for short periods of time as the U.S. Department of Education works to “resolve minor issues,” according to a department spokesperson. This soft launch period … Read more
A simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid is finally online after a significant delay. However, as part of a “soft launch,” the new FAFSA form has only been periodically available. It’s likely few, if any, of the millions of students applying to college for the 2024-25 academic year have been able to successfully submit an application, … Read more
