The 2023-2024 Federal Student Aid (FSA) Handbook consists of the Application and Verification Guide, nine numbered volumes, and appendices. Each volume and appendix is posted on the Web after being reviewed and approved by the appropriate offices in Federal Student Aid and the Office of Postsecondary Education.
For 2023-2024, we have reorganized the FSA Handbook by creating three new volumes, each of which consolidates into a single volume guidance relevant to specific FSA programs that was previously included in two or more FSA Handbook volumes. By placing most guidance that is specific to a particular FSA program in a single volume and eliminating duplicate content, we hope to make the FSA Handbook easier for schools to use. More information about specific changes to each volume can be found in the volume’s introduction. In addition, please review the Electronic Announcement (EA-GENERAL-23-03) for more information about the reorganization.
Throughout the FSA Handbook, we use “college,” “school,” and “institution” interchangeably unless a more specific use is given. Similarly, “student,” “applicant,” and “aid recipient” are synonyms. “Parents” in this volume refers to the parents of dependent students, and “you” refers to the primary audience of the handbook: financial aid administrators at colleges. “We” indicates the U.S. Department of Education (the Department, ED), and “federal student aid” and “Title IV aid” are synonymous terms for the financial aid programs offered by the Department.
We appreciate any comments that you have on the FSA Handbook. We often revise the text based on questions and feedback from the financial aid community, so please email us at fsaschoolspubs@ed.gov about how to improve the handbook so it’s clear and informative.