2024-2025 FAFSA Update
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has made important changes to the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to make it faster and easier for you to file your FAFSA. These changes have caused financial aid awards to be delayed, so be sure to review the new changes and submit your FAFSA as early as possible. Columbus State’s FAFSA school code: 006867.
How has the FAFSA changed?
- The FAFSA is more user-friendly. The form has been reduced from 100 questions to just over 30, making it possible to finish in about 10 minutes instead of an hour.
- The Student Aid Index (SAI) — the federal government’s calculation of how much Pell Grant money you may be eligible for based on income and assets pulled from tax information — has replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI is a simplified calculation with fewer exclusions and requires less information from families, which makes it more transparent and accurate. It has now been updated to reflect current inflation.
- Pell Grant eligibility has expanded, making it easier for more students to qualify.
- An additional $1.8 billion in aid is available to eligible students across the country, meaning your award amount may increase.
- Learn more online.
File your FAFSA as soon as possible to avoid delays
With these simplifications come delays. A FAFSA formula issue caused delays in the DOE’s FAFSA opening date, resulting in subsequent setbacks. Additionally, colleges and universities must update their systems to account for these changes, causing further delays in awarding aid. We are working hard to ensure we are prepared for FAFSA processing and packaging.
Our team is focused on updating and testing our systems so we can send out award notifications as soon as possible. We hope to begin releasing awards in May. It is as important as ever to apply early, as FAFSA will be processed in the order they are received. We are here to answer your questions about FAFSA delays and changes and how this impacts you as a student.
At Columbus State, our team is here to assist you on your journey toward a debt-free degree and is happy to answer any questions. Contact finaid@cscc.edu for additional information or to start a live chat with one of our financial aid representatives.