The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form process has been updated for the 2024-25 aid year by the Department of Education, with the goals of expanding access to federal student aid and providing a streamlined experience for students and families.
But many people are experiencing frustration with the new process.
The FAFSA Simplification Act, passed by Congress in 2020, significantly overhauled the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. This includes the FAFSA form, which is now available on the Federal Student Aid website during a soft launch period.
University of Detroit Mercy encourages students and families to not panic if they experience difficulties during this soft launch, as there is plenty of time to submit the FAFSA to UDM.
Schools won’t begin to receive FAFSA data from the Department of Education until the end of January or early February, which means UDM won’t be able to notify students that the University has received their application for some time. Once UDM receives the application, the University will still need several weeks to create financial aid offers.
Benefits of the FAFSA Simplification Act will include:
- A more streamlined application process.
- Better user experience.
- Expanded eligibility for federal student aid.
- Reduced barriers for certain student populations.
The overhauled form is available for short periods of time during the soft launch period as the Department of Education’s website performance is monitored. Applicants may experience a waiting room feature, and users who go online during a temporary pause should check back later to complete the FAFSA form.
Students who complete the FAFSA during the soft launch period will have their information stored for processing. There is no need to resubmit the form after the soft launch ends.
For more information, including a list of changes and recommendations on preparing for the FAFSA, visit UDM’s webpage highlighting the 2024-25 FAFSA form.