The Better FAFSA: What You Need to Know
The Better FAFSA: What You Need to Know
Higher education opens doors to opportunity.
The U.S. Department of Education is making transformational changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The FAFSA form is an application that students and families need to complete to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free, and it gives students access to the largest source of financial aid to help pay for higher education.
The Better FAFSA is simplified, redesigned, and streamlined. It is faster and easier to fill out, with most students and families completing it in less than 15 minutes. It ensures 665,000 more students will receive Federal Pell Grants to pay for college. Additionally, more than 1.7 million more students will receive the maximum Pell Grant.
Making FAFSA Corrections
Some students who already submitted FAFSA forms may need to make corrections. For students who need to make corrections to their FAFSA form, doing so should only take a few minutes. To get started, students and contributors should go to their StudentAid.gov account and select the form that notes an "Action Required" under "My Activity." Select "View FAFSA Submission Summary" to review the information and any actions you need to take to complete the form. Select the "Make a Correction" button at the top of the "FAFSA Form Answers" tab. Some of the most common corrections include signing the form or providing consent and approval to access and use federal tax data. Remember: successfully completing your FAFSA form is the first step to unlocking affordable and accessible higher education opportunities.
Watch these videos to learn more about making corrections to your FAFSA:
- Better FAFSA Corrections and Completion Guidance: Students
- Better FAFSA Corrections and Completion Guidance: Parents
- Orientación para hacer correcciones y completar la Better FAFSA: Padres
- Better FAFSA Corrections and Completion Guidance: Adding Schools
- How to make corrections and add colleges and universities to your FAFSA
- How to make corrections to the new FAFSA form – Adding signature and contributor information
- How to correct and submit the signature in the new FAFSA form – For students and their contributors
- Orientación para hacer correcciones y completar la Better FAFSA: Padres (in Spanish)
- Cómo hacer correcciones y añadir universidades a su FAFSA (in Spanish)
- Cómo hacer correcciones al nuevo formularlo FAFSA– añadir la firma e información del contribuyente (in Spanish)
- Cómo corregir y enviar la firma en el nuevo formulario FAFSA – para estudiantes y sus contribuyentes (in Spanish)
Other useful resources to help you prepare and submit your FAFSA® Form:
- Understand and Prepare FAFSA® Form Contributors
- Review, Sign, and Submit Your 2024–25 FAFSA® Form
- How Do I Complete the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form If My Parent Is a Noncitizen?
Better FAFSA Toolkits
- FAFSA Guide for Parents and Contributors - Partner Guidance
- Guía para Padres y Contribuyentes del FAFSA 2024-25 (in Spanish)
- Guía para Padres y Contribuyentes del FAFSA 2024-25 - Guía para Socios (in Spanish)
Watch and share these videos on the Better FAFSA.
High School FAFSA Submission Rate
| State | Rate as of 5/10/24 |
|---|---|
| District Of Columbia | 62.8% |
| Louisiana | 61.1% |
| Tennessee | 60.5% |
| Illinois | 57.9% |
| California | 56.0% |
| Connecticut | 53.6% |
| Texas | 53.3% |
| Rhode Island | 53.2% |
| Indiana | 52.8% |
| Massachusetts | 50.7% |
The submission rate is based on the number of high school senior 2024-25 FAFSA submissions divided by the projected total of high school graduates for that state.
Check out high school FAFSA submission rates by state here (updated 5/14/24)
FAFSA Student Support Strategy
On May 6, the Department launched the FAFSA Student Support Strategy to continue increasing the number of high school students who complete a 2024-25 FAFSA and enroll in college, particularly first-time college students and students of color. This investment builds on the Department's efforts to help students, families, and institutions through the 2024-25 FAFSA application cycle, in addition to the College Support Strategy, the FAFSA Fast Break campaign, and direct communication efforts with institutions and stakeholders via the FAFSA Fast News blog.
As part of the FAFSA Student Support Strategy, the Department is providing up to $50 million to help school districts, states, nonprofits, and other public and private organizations with efforts to boost FAFSA completion. These funds will help grow capacity for organizations supporting FAFSA completion efforts, facilitate FAFSA clinics, and provide transportation and communication supports to families as needed. The program will be implemented by ECMC to support organizations with demonstrated experience expanding college access and enrollment. For additional details, read the press release here.
Resources for students and families, high school educators and college access counselors, and college officials
For students and families
- See and share this toolkit for students and families
- Learn about the better FAFSA form, and check out this slide deck
- Read these FAFSA Pro Tips to help you successfully complete the FAFSA form
- Check out this video on applying for financial aid with the FAFSA form
- Watch and share these videos from students, a parent, an organizational leader, and Department leaders on the Better FAFSA.
- Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to receive an estimate of how much federal student aid the student may be eligible to receive
For high school educators and college access counselors
- See and share this toolkit for high school educators and college access counselors
- Check out this roadmap for counselors and advocates
- Use the Financial Aid Toolkit for counselors
- Read 5 Things College Access Professionals Should Know
- Check out this slide deck
- Bookmark this page for regular status updates and resources related to the better FAFSA form
- Watch and share these videos from students, a parent, an organizational leader, and Department leaders on the Better FAFSA.
- Sign up to receive updates on webinars and other information
For college officials
- See and share this toolkit for college officials
- Check out this slide deck
- Check out this roadmap for institutions and state partners
- See the FSA Knowledge Center, a repository for all information, guidance, and training related to better FAFSA
- Watch and share these videos from students, a parent, an organizational leader, and Department leaders on the Better FAFSA.
- Bookmark this page for regular status updates and resources related to the better FAFSA form
- Sign up to receive updates on webinars and other information
Additional Actions the Department is Taking
Significantly Reducing Verification Requirements
Thanks to the overhauled FAFSA form, the majority of income data now comes directly from the IRS, which will not need to be verified. This year’s reduction in verifications will reduce the burden for colleges and students while continuing to protect against fraud.
Providing Additional Flexibility on Recertification
The Department will, through Sept. 2024, waive the requirement for institutions to recertify eligibility for federal student aid programs no later than 90 days before their Program Participation Requirement expires. This flexibility will give time back to institutions at this critical moment.
Making Connections to Data
The Department is posting new data and resources to help schools drive FAFSA completion. For example, the Department released data by high school on their students’ 2024–2025 FAFSA submissions, two months ahead of schedule.
Suspending New Routine Program Reviews
The Department conducts program reviews to confirm colleges meet requirements for institutional eligibility, financial responsibility, and administrative capability. The Department will suspend new reviews through June 2024, except for the most serious issues, helping colleges focus on getting aid award offers to students.
Last Updated: 5/15/2024