Pearce Auditorium viewed through the arches of the Daniel Pavilion

What you need to know about the new FAFSA

The 2024-25 Free Application for Student Aid is officially available 24/7!

The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid is now past its soft launch period and officially open! This means, you’ll be able to fill out your FAFSA without any temporary pauses or other website complications. 

The new FAFSA is designed to be easier for you and your family, with simplified processes for inputting tax and income data, as well as fewer required questions for you to answer. You can use the 2024-25 FAFSA form to apply for federal financial aid to attend college between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Since, the form is now live 24/7, we recommend filing as soon as possible! 

Just like before, you need to make sure you select Brenau on your FAFSA using our school code: 001556.

2024-2025 FAFSA processing has been delayed

Recently, the Department of Education announced a delay in FAFSA processing. This means that Brenau will begin receiving 2024-2025 FAFSA information in mid-March. Our financial aid team will begin developing financial aid packages for students as soon as they receive information, and we will notify you once we have updates.

For now, the best thing you can do is log back into your account and confirm that you have filed the 2024-2025 FAFSA and not a form from a previous year.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a little bit different this year, but, just like always, Brenau’s financial aid professionals are here to help. Typically the FAFSA comes out each year on Oct. 1, but for the 2024-2025 academic year the application will be released in December in a simpler, more intuitive format.

Things to know about the new FAFSA

The FAFSA is opening later this year

Ordinarily the FAFSA opens in October, but the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not open until December. We don’t know exactly when yet, but as soon as we know, we’ll reach out to you with more information. So, keep an eye on your email and our social media accounts (links in the footer).

The FAFSA will have a vastly reduced number of questions

The 2024-2025 FAFSA will have fewer than 50 questions, compared to more than 100 questions in the past.

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) has been replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI)

This new calculation will automatically pull income tax information from the IRS once authorized by the taxpayer (student, parents, spouse).

Federal financial aid will be more accessible for more students

Early studies show that more students will qualify for a Federal Pell Grant and more Pell-eligible students will qualify for the maximum annual amount.

The FAFSA no longer considers multiple family members in college

Students with siblings or spouses enrolled in college may see a difference in grant eligibility

Everyone needs an FSA ID

Everyone filling out the FAFSA (including parents or spouses) needs a Federal Student Aid ID. Sign up for an FSA ID at StudentAid.gov if you don’t have one.

Make sure to select Brenau

When you file your FAFSA, make sure you select Brenau to receive your FAFSA results so that we can put together your financial aid package. Brenau’s school code is 001556.

FAFSA and admissions timeline

  • Now: Create your FSA ID and prepare for the FAFSA release
  • Dec. 2023: Complete your FAFSA as early as you can (the sooner you complete your FAFSA, the sooner we’ll be able to send you your financial aid package)
  • Please note that FAFSA processing has been delayed by the Department of Education. Brenau will begin receiving FAFSA information in mid-March. 
  • Late March – April 2024: Brenau will begin sending financial aid offers
    • Incoming Fall 2024 freshman students, keep an eye out for your personal financial aid video, which details your specific package
  • Spring 2024: If you’re an incoming student, fill out your enrollment intention form, and prepare for a great year at Brenau

FAFSA Contributors

Financial Aid, FAFSA, Contributors

From StudentAid.gov:

If you have a Social Security number (SSN), you must provide it when creating your account.

If you don’t have an SSN, you can create an account if one of the following statements is true for you:

  • I am a parent or spouse of a student who is applying for aid, and I don’t have an SSN.
  • I am a citizen of the Freely Associated States and need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form online.

While creating your account, you’ll need to answer a few knowledge-based questions to verify your identity. If you answer these questions correctly, you’ll be able to use your account immediately.

Note that accounts created without SSNs have limited functionality.

To apply for an SSN, or to get a replacement Social Security card, you must contact your local Social Security office. For more information, you can visit the Social Security Administration or call at 1-800-722-1213.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, Contributors

First, the student will need to invite the contributor, then:

  1. The contributor will receive an email stating that they have been invited by their student
  2. The contributor will create an FSA ID if they don’t have one already and then log into their account
  3. The contributor reviews the FAFSA questions associated with them, and enters accurate responses.
Financial Aid, FAFSA, Contributors

The following flowchart will help you understand which of your parents needs to be a contributor on your FAFSA, or if both of your parents need to be contributors.

infographic about contributor relationship
Image courtesy of Alamo College District. Used with permission.
Financial Aid, FAFSA, Contributors

It is likely that you will need to have a contributor if you are a traditional undergraduate student. The contributor will likely be one or both of your parents or stepparents, depending on your specific circumstances. Your spouse will be a contributor if you are married.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, Contributors

A contributor is the term the federal government uses for anyone who needs to submit information on your 2024-2025 FAFSA. You’ll need to invite them to fill out information on your FAFSA. Your contributors will also need to make their own FSA ID.

The most likely contributors are:

  • Student
  • Spouse (if student is married)
  • Parents (biological or adoptive)
  • Stepparents

FSA IDs

Financial Aid, FAFSA, FSA IDs

If you create your FSA ID with a Social Security Number, it will take a few days to verify. Once the 2024-25 FAFSA is available to file, you should be able to start your FAFSA about 1-3 days after creating your FSA ID. To get a head start, you and your contributors can create your FSA IDs now using the Federal Student Aid website as long as you have a Social Security Number. If you go ahead and create your FSA IDs, you will be able to start the FAFSA as soon as it opens.

Since contributors without a social security number must undergo a verification process to create their FSA IDs, those created without a Social Security number will be verified instantly and can start entering information on the FAFSA immediately.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, FSA IDs

No, you can use your existing FSA ID. If you forgot your username and/or password, you can retrieve your FSA ID on the studentaid.gov username retrieval page.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, FSA IDs

As of right now, no. The federal government is developing a new FSA ID process that will launch in late 2023. Once this takes place, you will be able to verify your identity without a Social Security Number and make an FSA ID.

An FSA ID is required for all students and contributors to access the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, FSA IDs

All students and contributors who have a Social Security Number can create their FSA ID now on the Federal Student Aid website.

If your contributors do not have a Social Security number, they will be able to create their FSA ID once the new FSA ID process launches in late 2023.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, FSA IDs

The FSA ID is your account to access the FAFSA. All students and contributors need to have their own FSA ID.

Student Aid Index (SAI) and Federal Pell Grants

Financial Aid, FAFSA, Student Aid Index (SAI) and Federal Pell Grants

Yes! You can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to help get an idea what aid you may be eligible for. The Estimator can be found on the Federal Student Aid website. Please note that this tool provides estimates of federal student aid programs; it cannot predict financial aid offered by Brenau University or through Georgia state aid programs. Your Brenau financial aid offer will pull all sources of financial aid together in order to help you and your family make an informed decision.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, Student Aid Index (SAI) and Federal Pell Grants

Federal Pell Grants are need-based financial aid that is awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. This award is money given by the government to students and does not need to be repaid. As a result of the changes to the FAFSA and the new SAI, more students are expected to qualify for a Pell Grant. The maximum annual Pell Grant is currently $7,395 for full-time enrollment.

Financial Aid, FAFSA, Student Aid Index (SAI) and Federal Pell Grants

The SAI has changed the way that eligibility for need-based aid is calculated:

  • The number of family members in college is no longer factored into the calculation, but still reported on your FAFSA
  • An SAI may be as low as $ -1,500, while the floor for the EFC was $0
  • The SAI will help determine Pell Grant Eligibility for families who do not qualify based solely on family income
  • Child support received and family farms and small businesses will now be considered assets
Financial Aid, FAFSA, Student Aid Index (SAI) and Federal Pell Grants

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a measure of you and your family’s ability to pay for college, and helps to determine the amount of need-based financial aid you may be eligible to receive. The SAI replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from previous versions of the FAFSA.