FAFSA® Simplification and FAFSA®/WASFA

FAFSA^® Simplification and FAFSA^®/WASFA Updates for 2024-25

The biggest change to Financial Aid in 40 years is occurring with the 2024-2025 academic year and it represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to offer aid. These changes alter how it looks for students to apply for aid through the FAFSA form and the methodology for determining what aid students may be eligible for.

What Does This Mean for You?

The 2024-2025 FAFSA process cycle is different, but the Financial Aid Office is here for you! This webpage is intended to keep you updated with the most recent information.

Latest Communications and Updates: Be sure to check your email for messages from GRC about FAFSA/WASFA updates.

2024-25 FAFSA® Known Issues: A list maintained by the Department of Education of current issues with the application and any current fixes or workarounds to help you complete.

What Is the FAFSA® Simplification Act? Why Is FAFSA® Changing?

What Is Changing?

• 2024-2025 FAFSA Release Date
  • As of December 31, 2023, the 2024-25 FAFSA is now available. Click here to begin.
• Say goodbye to “EFC” (expected family contribution) and hello to “SAI” (student aid index)
  • This number measures the student and/or family’s ability to pay for college. The new need analysis formula allows for a potential SAI as low as -1500 and implements a separate eligibility criterion for determining Federal Pell Grants.
• Expanded Access to Federal Pell Grant
  • Expanded eligibility based on family size (not including number in college) and federal poverty level allows for more students to receive Federal Pell Grants
  • Incarcerated students in federal and state penal facilities may be able to receive Federal Pell Grants’
  • Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility is restored to students whose school closed when they were enrolled or if the school is found to have misled the student.
• Streamlined FAFSA Form
  • Fewer questions are asked, and federal tax data is automatically transferred from the IRS starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA
• New Terminology
  • With the 2024-2025 FAFSA you can expect to see and hear words such as:
    • Contributor: anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA like a parent or spouse and even you as the student.
      • Who Is a Contributor on the 2024–25 FAFSA Form? (youtube.com)
      • Is my parent a contributor on the 2024-25 FAFSA?
      • Why Do My Contributors and I Need Our Own StudentAid.gov Accounts for the 2024–25 FAFSA Form? (youtube.com)
    • Consent: each required contributor is required to consent to their information being included on the FAFSA, including their 2022 tax and income information. What Does It Mean To Provide Consent and Approval on the 2024–25 FAFSA Form? (youtube.com)
    • FTI: Federal Tax Information (FTI) transferred directly from the IRS as a part of giving consent as a contributor on the application.
• Green River College financial aid priority deadlines may change based on when we begin to receive FAFSA applications from the Department of Education. You can find information on those dates here: Financial Aid Deadlines.

What Isn't Changing?

• The types of aid available to Green River College students
• The FAFSA is still required to be submitted every year
• Dependency status questions that determine if your parent(s) must complete the FAFSA remain the same
• Tax information from the prior-prior year is still collected. This means you report 2022 income and assets on the 2024-2025 application.
• The questions regarding an applicant's gender, race and ethnicity have no effect on federal student aid eligibility and are collected for statistical purposes only by the Department of Education. Green River College will not receive this information from the FAFSA, and you can opt out of answering these questions with no impact to your application.

Want More Information?

• Watch what Federal Student Aid has to say about FAFSA Simplification in their YouTube video.
• See how the FAFSA Simplification changes impact what you may qualify for. Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to see what you may now be eligible for.

Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA)

The WASFA is for students who cannot (or choose not) to file a FAFSA. In general, students that are not eligible to apply for aid using the FAFSA based on their status should complete the WASFA if they are a Washington resident and have completed a high school diploma or equivalent (even if it was completed outside of the United States).

Students who are eligible to use the FAFSA may use the WASFA, but it is encouraged that they use the FAFSA to receive the most aid possible. Students should only complete one application – either the FAFSA or the WASFA – but not both. Not sure which to use? Start here.

How Is the WASFA Impacted?

• The overall appearance of the WASFA page had been updated, but the application remains very similar to prior years, with some changes to stay current with the new FAFSA.
• The WASFA application for 2024-2025 became available January 5, 2024. Click here to begin.
• Follow Washington Student Achievement Council’s WASFA website as well for additional resources.