A Better FAFSA® Process Means a Better Future for Everyone!
2024-25 FAFSA Changes
Big changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for the 2024-2025 aid year!
The FAFSA Simplification Act was passed by Congress in 2020 and represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. This includes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, the need analysis that determines federal aid eligibility, changes in terminology, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs.
2024-2025 FAFSA *Now Available*
On December 31, 2023, The Department of Education (ED) began its soft launch of the redesigned 2024-25 FAFSA. During that time, the application will be available to students and families periodically as ED pulls the form down from time to time to perform maintenance and address any potential issues.
Federal Student Aid (FSA) has stressed that applicants must not rush to complete the application during the soft launch since FSA will not transmit Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) to institutions until after January.
During planned maintenance pauses, applicants who are already online and in the process of filling out their FAFSA will be able to complete their work, but others may not be able to begin or resume work on the 2024-25 FAFSA form. The department has said that users who cannot access the form during the soft launch should check back at a later time to access the form once any planned maintenance has been completed. Applicants may also experience a waiting room feature to help control web traffic volume and “ensure optimal performance of the form,” FSA said earlier this month.
To complete your 2024-25 FAFSA® application, visit: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. VVC’s school code is: 001335.
What's changing with the FAFSA?
There are a number of benefits of the FAFSA simplification act, including a more streamlined application process and a better user experience for the FAFSA, expanded eligibility for federal student aid, and reduced barriers for certain student populations (e.g., homeless and unaccompanied youth, incarcerated students, English language learners, and students from low-income backgrounds).
CLICK HERE for several ways you can learn more about the 2024-25 FAFSA Changes!
What isn't changing?
While the FAFSA is receiving an update and the aid eligibility calculation has been revised, there are a number of aid-related matters that will not change.
- The general types of aid available to VVC students and federal student loan limits will not change.
- The FAFSA will still be required for consideration of federal and state financial aid every year.
- Dependency status questions that determine if your parent(s) must complete the FAFSA will remain the same.
- The FAFSA will still request tax information from the prior-prior year, which means you'll report 2022 income and assets on your 2024-25 application. Families with significant reductions in income can consider submitting an appeal for special circumstances.
- VVC admission application deadlines will not change.
- The questions regarding an applicant's gender, race, and ethnicity will have no effect on federal student aid eligibility and are included for statistical purposes and data collection only. In fact, VVC won't even receive this data from the FAFSA.
When should I submit the 2024-25 FAFSA?
New students who plan to begin classes at VVC in the fall of 2024 should complete the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available in December. Returning VVC students should complete the FAFSA by the April 2nd priority deadline. More information about the application process for students is available on our website.
We plan to begin sending aid offers within the timelines listed below to students who are admitted to VVC and have completed the aid application process. However, these dates are subject to change as we receive new information from our software providers and the Department of Education.
Disclaimer:
VVC’s Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to providing timely updates to students, families, and our community. Due to the significant amount of changes that are occurring, portions of our website may not yet be 100% accurate for the 2024-2025 academic year. We'll continue to update this page as we receive more information from the Department of Education and Federal Student Aid, and appreciate your patience as we work to implement the changes brought by the FAFSA Simplification Act.
Contact Information:
Office of Financial Aid
Email: info@vvc.edu
Phone: 760-245-4271
Location: Building 23, upper campus, Student Services One Stop Center
Hours: M, T, W, TH: 8-7pm
F: 8-4:30pm
FAFSA School Code: 001335