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Unlocking Opportunities: Navigating the Better FAFSA application

⚡️ Welcome back to the All4Ed Flash!

This week we’re discussing FASFA! Better FAFSA has been simplified and redesigned for broader access; it is faster, and many students can now finish the form in 15 minutes; and Better FAFSA unlocks billions of dollars in aid to help students with their dream of higher education.

If students have not started their FAFSA application, they can do it now by going to www.studentaid.gov. The FAFSA deadline is June 30th, and students have until that day to make any corrections or updates to their application.

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Financial aid makes education after high school more affordable – but first, students must apply by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – known as (FAFSA).

Each year, millions of students who are eligible for aid dollars are unable to complete the FAFSA, leaving money on the table that could have helped them pursue postsecondary education.

Applying for FAFSA is the single most important thing that students and families can do to get money for college. It’s the gateway to more than $150 billion in college grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans, as well as certain state-based aid.

The 2024–25 FAFSA form, also known as Better FAFSA, expands eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, and provides a streamlined user experience.

An estimated 7.3 million students from low-income backgrounds will be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants due to updates to student aid calculations. It is faster and easier to fill out, with most students and families completing it in less than 15 minutes.

It ensures 665,000 more students will receive Federal Pell Grants to pay for college. Additionally, more than 1.7 million more students will receive the maximum Pell Grant. Applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 questions, depending on their individual circumstances.

Unfortunately, there have been several technical issues with the new FAFSA website, and the rollout was delayed leaving many students, parents, high school counselors, and universities frustrated and worried.

For example, technical issues prevented students from inviting contributors who don’t have a social security number to participate in their FAFSA form. Many of these issues have been resolved, and students can now invite contributors without a social security number to their form.

Recently, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a congressional hearing on President Biden’s budget proposal — “There’s nothing more important right now at the Department of Education. We’re working on this around the clock, because we want to make sure our students have information they need to make informed decisions.”

Overall, the Better FAFSA has been simplified and redesigned for broader access; it is faster, and many students can now finish the form in 15 minutes; and Better FAFSA unlocks billions of dollars in aid to help students with their dream of higher education.
If students have not started their FAFSA application, they can do it now by going to www.studentaid.gov. The FAFSA deadline is June 30th, and students have until that day to make any corrections or updates to their application.

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