FAFSA simplification changes include the first major redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) process in over 40 years. The goal is to make applying for federal student aid easier for students.
The 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is now available periodically as part of the U.S. Department of Education's soft launch. During the soft launch, the FAFSA form will be available for short periods of time while they monitor site performance and form functionality. Please be aware that once your FAFSA is completed, Holy Cross will not receive your FAFSA information until late January. For more information, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.
- a more streamlined application process,
- expanded eligibility for federal financial aid,
- reduced barriers for certain student populations, and
- a better user experience for the FAFSA form.
- We still require the CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based aid. The Profile goes live October 1, so it is crucial to submit the CSS Profile as soon as you are able.
- Our commitment to current and future students remains the same:
- We will continue to meet families where they are by evaluating their full financial circumstances.
- We have taken measures to make the financial aid application process as simple and straightforward as possible for lower income families.
- We will continue to provide proactive financial counseling support to students throughout their time here.
- We will still consider siblings in college when determining institutional aid eligibility.
Better FAFSA Better Future Roadmap
To help ensure that students and families—and the partners critical to getting student aid dollars into the hands of students—are best prepared for a successful 2024–25 FAFSA cycle, Federal Student Aid has launched the Better FAFSA Better Future Roadmap, which includes the timeline for students and families below.
| Resource | Delivery Date |
|---|---|
|
Preparing for 2024–25 FAFSA Outreach Campaign A communications campaign, including videos, directed to students and families highlights what they should do to prepare for the new FAFSA form. The campaign also will provide key facts about what to expect from the new FAFSA process, including how to create an FSA ID, features of the 2024–25 FAFSA form, and Federal Pell Grant eligibility. |
Summer 2023 |
|
Financial Aid Estimator and Preview Tools Online tools for students and families will provide an early estimate of their Student Aid Index and potential eligibility, as well as visual previews of the new FAFSA form. |
Summer through Fall 2023 |
|
FAFSA Information Updates on StudentAid.gov Ongoing updates to FAFSA information and help resources will be posted to StudentAid.gov. |
Summer through Fall 2023 |
| 2024–25 FAFSA Available | December 2023 |
| Resource | Delivery Date |
|---|---|
|
Financial Aid Estimator and Preview Tools Online tools for students and families will provide an early estimate of their Student Aid Index and potential eligibility, as well as visual previews of the 2024–25 FAFSA form. |
Summer 2023 |
|
Counselor Training Webinars and train-the-trainer sessions, offered in collaboration with college access organizations, will provide detailed training to counselors about the key changes in the application process and eligibility determination. This training will help counselors better support students and families. |
Summer through Fall 2023 |
|
Fact Sheets One-page resources for counselors about priority topics identified by college access professionals will include understanding the Student Aid Index, creating an FSA ID, assisting students with unusual circumstances, and use of federal tax information. |
Summer through Fall 2023 |
| 2024–25 FAFSA Available | December 2023 |
We will update this page with more information about filing the 2024-2025 FAFSA once it is available. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Financial Aid Office.
Additional Information
Learn more about the FAFSA Simplification Act Changes for 2024-25.