2024-25 FAFSA Form

2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form U.S. Department of Education - Federal Student Aid ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The FAFSA is the official application for federal student aid, including: - Federal Pell Grants (free money, does not need to be repaid) - Federal Work-Study (part-time employment while enrolled) - Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) - Federal PLUS Loans (for parents and graduate students) - State financial aid programs (many states use FAFSA data) - Institutional aid from colleges and universities The 2024-25 FAFSA covers the academic year from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ STUDENT AID INDEX (SAI) ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The SAI (formerly called Expected Family Contribution or EFC) is calculated from FAFSA data: - SAI can range from -1500 to 999,999 - A negative or low SAI indicates higher financial need - SAI of 0 or below typically qualifies for maximum Pell Grant - The SAI is NOT the amount you'll pay - it's a number used to calculate aid eligibility ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ DEPENDENCY STATUS - CRITICAL DETERMINATION ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Students are classified as either DEPENDENT or INDEPENDENT: INDEPENDENT students (do NOT need parent info) if ANY of these apply: - Born before January 1, 2001 (age 24 or older by December 31, 2024) - Married (as of date of application) - Working on a master's or doctorate degree - Active duty in U.S. Armed Forces (not just training) - Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces - Orphan, ward of court, or in foster care since age 13 - Emancipated minor or in legal guardianship - Unaccompanied homeless youth (determined by specific officials) - Have legal dependents other than spouse who receive 50%+ support from student DEPENDENT students MUST provide parent information. Being financially independent from parents does NOT make you independent for FAFSA purposes. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ WHICH PARENT PROVIDES INFORMATION (for dependent students) ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ - If parents are MARRIED or UNMARRIED but living together: Both parents' info required - If parents are DIVORCED or SEPARATED: Provide info for the parent you lived with more during the past 12 months. If equal time, use the parent who provided more financial support. - If that parent is REMARRIED: Include stepparent's information - Grandparents, siblings, or legal guardians are NOT considered parents unless they legally adopted you ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ 2022 TAX YEAR - PRIOR-PRIOR YEAR ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The 2024-25 FAFSA uses 2022 tax information (prior-prior year): - This allows applicants to use already-filed tax returns - IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) can transfer tax data directly - If you haven't filed 2022 taxes, you should do so before completing FAFSA - If you won't file, you'll need to provide income information manually ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Eligible applicants must be: - U.S. citizen or U.S. national - U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder) - Eligible noncitizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) - Holder of T-visa or U-visa - Battered immigrant-qualified alien - Citizen of Freely Associated States (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau) DACA recipients and undocumented students are NOT eligible for federal aid but may still complete FAFSA for state/institutional aid in some states. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ IMPORTANT DEADLINES ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Federal deadline: June 30, 2025 (for 2024-25 aid year) State deadlines: VARY BY STATE - Many are much earlier (some as early as February/March) College deadlines: VARY BY SCHOOL - Check with each institution Priority deadlines: Apply as early as possible for maximum aid consideration ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ - Using wrong year's tax information (should be 2022) - Confusing the student's and parent's information - Reporting retirement accounts as assets (don't include 401k, IRA, pensions) - Forgetting to sign the form - Missing state or school deadlines - Not listing all schools you're considering - Entering income in wrong fields - Not updating FAFSA if family circumstances change ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ VERIFICATION ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Some applicants are selected for verification (random or due to inconsistencies): - You'll need to provide documentation (tax transcripts, W-2s, etc.) - Schools conduct verification before awarding aid - Answer all questions honestly and accurately to avoid problems ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ HELP RESOURCES ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Official Help: StudentAid.gov/fafsahelp Phone: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) TTY for hearing impaired: 1-800-730-8913 Hours: 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. Eastern, 7 days a week

1. Student Identity Information

Full legal name as it appears on Social Security card.

First Name:

Middle Name:

Last Name:

Suffix (Jr., III):

Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY):

Social Security Number: --

ITIN (if no SSN): --

2. Student Contact Information

Mobile Phone: --

Email:

Street Address:

City: State: ZIP:

Country:

3. Student Current Marital Status

Single (never married) Married (not separated) Remarried Separated Divorced Widowed

4. Student College or Career School Plans

College grade level when beginning 2024-25 school year:

First year undergraduate (freshman) Second year undergraduate (sophomore) Other undergraduate (junior and beyond) Master's, doctorate, or graduate certificate program

Will you already have your first bachelor's degree? Yes No

Pursuing initial teaching certification? Yes No

5. Student Personal Circumstances (Select all that apply)

Currently serving on active duty in U.S. armed forces (not training) Veteran of U.S. armed forces Have dependents (children/others) receiving more than half support from student Since age 13, was an orphan (no living biological/adoptive parent) Since age 13, was a ward of the court Since age 13, was in foster care Legally emancipated minor (court-determined) In legal guardianship (not parent/stepparent) None of these apply

6. Student Other Circumstances

On or after July 1, 2023, was student unaccompanied and homeless or at risk of homelessness?

Yes No

If Yes, who determined this? (select all that apply)

Shelter/outreach program director High school homeless liaison TRIO or GEAR UP program director Financial aid administrator None of these apply

7. Student Unusual Circumstances

Do unusual circumstances prevent contacting parents or would it pose a risk?

(Abusive environment, abandonment, refugee status, trafficking victim, incarceration, etc.)

Yes No

8. Apply for Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only

Are parents unwilling to provide information, but no unusual circumstances exist?

If Yes, you may only qualify for Direct Unsubsidized Loans (not grants or subsidized loans).

Yes No

9. Family Size

How many people in student's family?

Include student, spouse, dependent children, and others receiving more than half support from student.

10. Number in College

How many in student's family will be in college (July 2024-June 2025)?

11. Student Demographic Information (Research only - does not affect aid)

Gender:

Male Female Nonbinary Prefer not to answer

12. Student Race and Ethnicity (Research only)

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?

No Yes, Mexican/Mexican American/Chicano Yes, Puerto Rican Yes, Cuban Yes, other Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Prefer not to answer

Race (select all that apply):

White Black or African American Asian American Indian or Alaska Native Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Prefer not to answer

13. Student Citizenship

U.S. citizen or national Eligible noncitizen Neither U.S. citizen nor eligible noncitizen

A-Number (if eligible noncitizen): A

14. Student State of Legal Residence

State: Date became resident (MM/YYYY):

15. Parent Education Status

Neither parent attended college One or both attended but neither completed One or both completed college Don't know

16. Parent Killed in Line of Duty

Was parent/guardian killed while serving on active duty (after 9/11/2001) or as a public safety officer?

Yes No

17. Student High School Information

Completion status when beginning 2024-25:

High school diploma State-recognized equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC) Homeschooled None of the previous

High School Name:

City: State:

18. Federal Benefits Received

In 2022 or 2023, did student or family receive: (select all that apply)

Earned income credit (EIC) Federal housing assistance Free or reduced-price school lunch Medicaid Refundable credit for qualified health plan (QHP) SNAP (food stamps) SSI (Supplemental Security Income) TANF WIC

None of these apply

19. Student Tax Filing Status

Did/will student file 2022 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR? Yes No

Did student earn foreign income, work for international org, or file with Puerto Rico/U.S. territory? Yes No

Did/will student file 2022 joint return with current spouse? Yes No

20. Student 2022 Tax Return Information

Filing status:

Single Head of household Married filing jointly Married filing separately Qualifying surviving spouse

Convert to U.S. dollars. Enter 0 if not applicable.

Income earned from work: $

Tax exempt interest income: $

Untaxed portions of IRA distributions: $

IRA rollover: $

Untaxed portions of pensions: $

Pension rollover: $

Adjusted gross income (AGI): $

Income tax paid: $

Received EIC? Yes No Don't know

IRA deductions/SEP/SIMPLE: $

Education credits: $

Filed Schedule A,B,D,E,F, or H? Yes No Don't know

Schedule C net profit/loss: $

College grants/scholarships reported as income: $

Foreign earned income exclusion: $

21. Annual Child Support Received

Total child support received last calendar year (combined if married): $

22. Student Assets (Combined with spouse if married. Enter 0 if none.)

Cash, savings, checking accounts: $

Net worth of investments (not home): $

Net worth of businesses/investment farms: $

23. Colleges

Enter schools to receive FAFSA info. Find codes at StudentAid.gov/fafsa-app/FSCsearch

College 1: Code OR Name City State

College 2: Code OR Name City State

College 3: Code OR Name City State

College 4: Code OR Name City State

College 5: Code OR Name City State

24. Student Consent, Approval, and Signature

Approval to transfer federal tax information from the IRS

Student Signature: Date:

Student Spouse Section (Questions 25-29)

Complete only if student is married. See instructions.

25. Student Spouse Identity Information

First Name: Middle: Last: Suffix:

Date of Birth: SSN: --

ITIN (if applicable): --

26. Student Spouse Contact Information

Phone: -- Email:

Address:

City: State: ZIP: Country:

27. Student Spouse Tax Filing Status

Did/will spouse file 2022 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR? Yes No

Foreign income, international org, or Puerto Rico/territory return? Yes No

28. Student Spouse 2022 Tax Return Information

Filing status: Single Head of household MFJ MFS Qualifying surviving spouse

Income earned from work: $

Tax exempt interest: $

Untaxed IRA distributions: $

Untaxed pensions: $

AGI: $

Income tax paid: $

IRA deductions: $

Education credits: $

Schedule C net profit/loss: $

Foreign earned income exclusion: $

29. Student Spouse Consent, Approval, and Signature

Approval to transfer federal tax information from the IRS

Spouse Signature: Date:

Parent Section (Questions 30-41)

Complete if student is dependent. See "Who must provide information" in instructions.

30. Parent Identity Information

First Name: Middle: Last: Suffix:

Date of Birth: SSN: --

ITIN (if applicable): --

31. Parent Contact Information

Phone: -- Email:

Address:

City: State: ZIP: Country:

32. Parent Current Marital Status

Single (never married) Unmarried and both legal parents living together Married (not separated) Remarried Separated Divorced Widowed

33. Parent State of Legal Residence

State: Date became resident:

34. Family Size

How many people in parent's family?

Include parent (and spouse/partner), student, dependent children, and others receiving more than half support.

35. Number in College

How many in parent's family in college (July 2024-June 2025)? (Do not include parents)

39. Annual Child Support Received

Total child support received last calendar year: $

40. Parent Assets (Combined with spouse/partner if applicable)

Cash, savings, checking: $

Net worth of investments: $

Net worth of businesses/farms: $

41. Parent Consent, Approval, and Signature

Approval to transfer federal tax information from the IRS

Parent Signature: Date:

Parent Spouse or Partner Section (Questions 42-46)

Complete if parent is married or living with partner. See instructions.

42. Parent Spouse/Partner Identity Information

First Name: Middle: Last: Suffix:

Date of Birth: SSN: --

ITIN: --

43. Parent Spouse/Partner Contact Information

Phone: -- Email:

Address:

City: State: ZIP: Country:

44. Parent Spouse/Partner Tax Filing Status

Did/will they file 2022 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR? Yes No

If No, which applies:

Filed with Puerto Rico/U.S. territory Filed foreign tax return Foreign income/international org U.S. income below threshold Did not file for other reasons No income

45. Parent Spouse/Partner 2022 Tax Return Information

Filing status: Single HoH MFJ MFS Qualifying surviving spouse

Income earned from work: $

Tax exempt interest: $

Untaxed IRA distributions: $

Untaxed pensions: $

AGI: $

Income tax paid: $

IRA deductions: $

Education credits: $

Schedule C net profit/loss: $

Foreign earned income exclusion: $

46. Parent Spouse/Partner Consent, Approval, and Signature

Approval to transfer federal tax information from the IRS

Signature: Date:

Preparer Section (Questions 47-49)

Complete only if someone other than student/spouse/parent prepared this form. Paid preparers are prohibited.

47. Preparer Identity Information

First Name: Last Name:

SSN: -- EIN:

48. Preparer Contact Information

Organization:

Address:

City: State: ZIP:

49. Preparer Signature

Signature: Date:

2024-25 FAFSA Form

Student Section (Questions 1-24)

Student Spouse Section (Questions 25-29)

Parent Section (Questions 30-41)

Parent Spouse or Partner Section (Questions 42-46)

Preparer Section (Questions 47-49)