The federal government is changing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to make applying for financial aid easier. This new, shorter FAFSA application will open in December 2023, to provide aid for the 2024-2025 school year. This is a delay from when FAFSA usually opens on Oct. 1. In the meantime:

• If you completed a FAFSA form for 2023–2024, log into your StudentAid.gov account to confirm you have a current email address listed so you get important updates about your account and notification of the exact FAFSA launch date once it is announced.
• If you didn’t submit a 2023–2024 FAFSA form, it is important that you create a StudentAid.gov account. All students (and parents of dependent students) will need to create an account.

This delay gives time for the federal government to implement the FAFSA Simplification Act. At the same time, the Department of Education is implementing the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act, which will authorize a direct data exchange with the Internal Revenue Service to provide income information on the FAFSA form. This is a significant change in how students apply for financial aid.

Both laws require a radical shift in the current systems and procedures that LCC – and colleges and universities nationwide – use to award federal student aid.

We think it will be a positive change for you, but it will be a transitional year. Keep an eye out for more information!