2024–25 FAFSA Updates

We are in the soft launch period of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. During the soft launch period, we will monitor site performance, conduct pauses for maintenance, and make updates to improve the user experience for students and families.

Stakeholders should bookmark this page for regular status updates and resources related to the 2024-25 FAFSA launch.

Jan. 2, 2024 Update

Reminders

  • 2024–25 FAFSA Soft Launch Details and Timelines

    We informed the financial aid community on Dec. 31, 2023 that the Department has started the soft launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA form, where the form will be available for periods of time over the coming days while we monitor site performance and respond in real time to any potential issues impacting the applicant experience. During the soft launch we will be initiating pauses to the site, during which time the form will not be available while our team makes improvements. Students and families will have ample time to complete the 2024-25 FAFSA, and do not need to rush to fill out the form immediately when the soft launch period opens.

    Leading up to and during the soft launch, we uncovered some minor issues affecting users at various points in the application process, which is to be expected with the launch of a major new website. We are addressing these issues concurrently and will continue to monitor for additional issues users may encounter while we conduct the soft launch.

  • StudentAid.gov Account Creation for Individuals without a Social Security Number

    In a Dec. 22, 2023 announcement, FSA outlined changes to the StudentAid.gov account creation process for individuals without a social security number (SSN). These changes, set to take effect beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle, will require all contributors (student, parent, student’s spouse, parent’s spouse) to have a StudentAid.gov account to access and sign the online FAFSA form.

    This process is now in place, and we encourage contributors to Create an Account on StudentAid.gov in advance of completing the FAFSA form.

Published Communications

Resources for Institutions, Financial Aid Administrators, College Access Professionals and Other External Partners

  • Presentation: Creating and Using Your StudentAid.gov Account

    Updated in December 2023, this presentation provides an overview of the StudentAid.gov account, including how to create it, where it can be used, and how to troubleshoot some common errors.

Resources for Students and Families

  • StudentAid.gov article: Can I Create a StudentAId.gov account if I don’t have a SSN?

    If you are a parent or spouse of a student applying for aid, or a student who is a citizen of the Freely Associated States, and you don’t have a Social Security number, learn about creating an account without a Social Security number (SSN). 

Dec. 22, 2023 Update

Published Communications

Resources for Institutions, Financial Aid Administrators, College Access Professionals and Other External Partners

Resources for Students and Families

Dec. 15, 2023 Update

2024–25 FAFSA Soft Launch Details and Timelines

  • In a Dec. 15, 2023 announcement, FSA expanded upon previously shared information about the timeline of the 2024–25 FAFSA form launch and shared additional details for what applicants and families can expect through February 2024.

    As previously announced, students and families will be able to complete and submit the 2024–25 FAFSA form online by Dec. 31. We will be treating the period leading up to and following Dec. 31 as a soft launch period, which will allow us to monitor and respond in real time to any potential issues impacting the applicant experience.

Technical Documentation

  • 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (December 2023 Update #2)

    With this December 2023 Update #2, we have updated Volume 2 – FPS Schedule and Getting Help, Volume 3 – Electronic Data Exchange and FAFSA Processing, and Volume 6 – ISIR Guide; these are now final. We also have updated Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects that was initially published as final on Dec. 7, 2023; the changes made since Dec. 7th are noted in the volume’s Change History Table. The Introduction and volumes 1, 4, 7, 8, and 9 remain unchanged.

    As a reminder, we began publishing early draft volumes of the 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide in December 2022 and updated the early drafts as we could through October 2023. In late November 2023, we began to publish final versions of the volumes. Look for the word—“Draft” or “Final”—at the beginning of each volume description for that volume’s status.

Test ISIR Data and Web Demo Site for 2024–2025

  • FAFSA and ISIR testing with FSA is not required; however, many schools and software providers have used our test ISIR data and Web Demo site tools to help ensure that their student aid system is prepared for the ISIR data that will be produced by our processing system and to familiarize their staff with the web options available to both applicants and FAAs.

  • Test ISIR Data – We posted a test ISIR data file under message class IDSA25OP in October 2023. This initial file included a limited number of simulated 2024–25 student records. Later in 2024, we plan to replace the initial file with an expanded version that contains multiple records and a more robust sampling of applicant scenarios, including multiple transactions, parent data, and spouse data.

  • Web Demo Site – Due to timing constraints related to implementing the 2024-25 FAFSA, we will not be able to provide a Web Demo Site this award year. We appreciate partners’ understanding and are committed to continuing to make other resources available that can be used to familiarize staff with the web options available to both applicants and FAAs.

Published Communications

Resources for Students and Families

  • StudentAid.gov Article: Reporting Parent Information

    Dependent students must provide information about their legal parent(s) on their FAFSA form. Read this article to determine which parent may need to participate in the student’s FAFSA form as a contributor.

  • StudentAid.gov Article: Eligibility for Non-U.S. Citizens

    As part of the general eligibility requirements to qualify for federal student aid, students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. Learn more about eligible citizen and noncitizens statuses in this article.

  • StudentAid.gov Article: Aid for Military Families

    Learn about the types of aid available to veterans, future military personnel, active-duty personnel, or those related to veterans or active-duty personnel.

  • StudentAid.gov Article: FAFSA Tips for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

    Students are eligible to complete the FAFSA form without parent information if they meet the definition of a homeless and unaccompanied youth, or unaccompanied, self-supporting and at risk of homelessness.

Dec. 8, 2023 Update

Technical Documentation

  • 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (December 2023 Update #1)

    With this December 2023 Update #1, we have updated Volume 7 – Comment Codes, Volume 8 – Agency Matches, and Volume 9 – Testing and Web Demo System; these are now final. The Introduction and Volume 1 are also now final. The Introduction has not changed since we posted it on Dec. 28, 2022. Volume 1 has not changed since we posted it on Sept. 25, 2023. Volume 2 through Volume 6 remain unchanged.

    As a reminder, we began publishing early draft volumes of the 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide in December 2022 and updated the early drafts as we could through October 2023. In late November 2023, we began to publish final versions of the volumes. Look for the word—“Draft” or “Final”—at the beginning of each volume description for that volume’s status.

Published Communications

Resources for Institutions, Financial Aid Administrators, College Access Professionals and Other External Partners

  • Recorded Training: 2023 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference

    Access on-demand training on topics related to the 2024-25 FAFSA launch:

    Session GS4 – Federal Update

    Session GS5 – FAFSA Update

    Session BO10 – Data Use and Considerations Under the FUTURE Act and FAFSA Simplification Act

    Session BO13 – FAFSA Simplification: Application and Need Analysis

    Session BO15 – Calculating a Federal Pell Grant

    Note: To access the on-demand sessions, log in to the 2023 Virtual FSA Training Conference Event Platform and navigate to the “On-Demand” page from the main menu.

Nov. 27, 2023 Update

Technical Documentation

  • 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (November 2023 Update)

    With this November 2023 update, we have updated Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects, and it is now final. We have also posted the standalone final ISIR record layout in Excel format. The layout has not changed since we posted it on Oct. 10, 2023. The Introduction, Volumes 1 through 4, and Volumes 6 through 9 are unchanged.

    Note: The current 2024-25 ISIR record layout is the final version as of today’s date. The layout has not changed since we posted it on Oct. 10, 2023. While some minor edits to the field values may occur in the future, users should consider the current version “final” and ready for development and testing. If updates to the final file are necessary, the updated file will be posted to the 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide publication page.

Published Communications

Resources for Institutions, Financial Aid Administrators, College Access Professionals and Other External Partners

  • Recorded Training: StudentAid.gov Account Creation Process for Users Without an SSN

    Watch this recorded webinar for a preview of the new account creation process for users without a Social Security number (SSN), which will be available when the 2024-25 FAFSA form opens.

    Note: To access recorded webinars, log in to the FSA Training Center and select FAFSA Simplification.

Resources for Students and Families

  • StudentAid.gov Announcement: Launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA Form

    Point students and families to this resource to get general information about the 2024-25 FAFSA launch, what they need to know, and what they can do now to prepare.

  • StudentAid.gov Article: Dependency Status

    Help students determine if they are considered independent or dependent, and whose information they must report when they fill out the 2024-25 FAFSA form.

Nov. 15, 2023 Update

Last Modified: 01/03/2024 • Published: 11/15/2023