The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens every year on Oct. 1. While this year is no different, the form you’ll see on Oct. 1, 2022 will look slightly different than earlier versions.
Thanks to the FAFSA Simplification Act, some questions have been eliminated, and the myStudentAid mobile app has been retired. While the revisions to the FAFSA are relatively minor at this point, students and parents can expect to see bigger changes in the years to come.
One fact remains the same, however—submitting the FAFSA is crucial for accessing financial aid for college and graduate school.
When Does the FAFSA Open?
If you’re seeking financial aid for the 2023-24 school year, you can fill out and submit the FAFSA starting on Oct. 1, 2022. The FAFSA unlocks the door to federal, state and school-based aid, which can come in the form of grants, scholarships, student loans and work-study.
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You’ll need to fill out the FAFSA for every year you’re in school and want to receive financial aid. New students will submit a new FAFSA form, while returning students can submit a Renewal FAFSA.
If you’re a dependent student, your parents will provide information on this form, too. Your family may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer their financial information directly into the FAFSA.
When Should I Submit the 2023-24 FAFSA?
Although the federal deadline to file the FAFSA isn’t until June 30, 2024, it’s a good idea to submit it as close to when the FAFSA opens as possible—Oct. 1.
For one thing, states and schools typically set much earlier FAFSA deadlines than the federal deadline. Second, some financial aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you can complete the FAFSA, the better.
Before the FAFSA opens on Oct. 1, set up your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password so you can easily access your account. If you’re a dependent, your parent(s) will need their own FSA ID to access the FAFSA, too.
Changes to This Year’s FAFSA
In late 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act to make this complex form more accessible to students and their parents. Federal Student Aid will take a phased approach to implementing the FAFSA changes. Here are some adjustments you’ll see on this year’s FAFSA.
No More Selective Service Requirement
Federal law requires men between the ages of 18 and 25 to register with the Selective Service System, the agency in charge of military drafts. Until recently, the FAFSA asked if applicants had registered as part of its financial aid screening.
With the revised FAFSA, registering with Selective Service will no longer be a prerequisite to receiving financial aid. This question won’t appear on the 2023-24 FAFSA, and your registration status will no longer impact your eligibility for aid.
Removal of Drug Conviction Question
Along similar lines, students with a record of drug convictions will no longer be ineligible for financial aid. This question will be removed from the FAFSA, Student Aid Report (SAR) and associated forms.
Elimination of Male or Female Question
The 2023-24 FAFSA has also gotten rid of the question, “Are you male or female?” on its paper and web applications, as well as the Student Aid Report. Because this and a few other questions were removed, the FAFSA questions have been renumbered.
Special Considerations for Incarcerated Students
Incarcerated students can now qualify for the federal Pell Grant—a grant that’s earmarked for students with financial need. Federal Student Aid may be able to identify incarcerated students from the address they provide on the FAFSA, but these students can also elect to submit a separate “Incarcerated Applicant Form.”
Retirement of myStudentAid Mobile App
In previous years, students could complete the FAFSA via the myStudentAid mobile app. This app was retired in June 2022 and is no longer available for filling out or submitting the FAFSA. However, students can still complete their FAFSA on a mobile device by visiting StudentAid.gov.
FAFSA Changes to Expect in the Future
While you won’t see drastic changes to the 2023-24 FAFSA, you may see more significant revisions in the next few years. As part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, legislators proposed reducing the FAFSA’s more than 100 questions to just 36.
The act also aims to auto-populate certain fields with data from the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, so students and parents don’t have to transfer the information themselves. Plus, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will get a new name—Student Aid Index (SAI).
The EFC has long been a confusing term, since many students assume it’s what their family is required to pay for school. Renaming it clarifies its true meaning as a measure of a student’s financial need. It will also be possible for the SAI to be a negative number to more accurately reflect a student’s need for financial aid.
All scheduled changes to the FAFSA should be in effect by July 1, 2024.
Submit the FAFSA, Even If You Don’t Think You Qualify for Aid
The federal government distributed nearly $235 billion in grants, loans and other types of financial aid in the 2020-21 school year. But according to the National College Attainment Network, only 57% of high school graduates from the Class of 2021 submitted the FAFSA. Unfortunately, some students miss out on valuable aid every year because they don’t submit this important form.
Even if you think your income is too high to qualify for financial aid, it’s a good idea to complete the FAFSA. There are no income limits for the FAFSA, and it grants access to non-need-based aid, such as federal student loans. What’s more, the calculation for financial aid is complex, so you might be eligible for more aid than you think.
Some schools and private organizations also rely on your FAFSA information to award grants and scholarships. Filing a FAFSA is also useful in case your financial situation changes in the future.
Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for student aid, it’s a good idea to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens on Oct. 1.