The U.S. Department of Education has reported the acceptance of over 3.1 million Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms since the unveiling of the redesigned application for the 2024–25 academic year, which took place just before the end of 2024. In January, it was reported that one million FAFSA forms had already been submitted.
"FAFSA is personal for me. As a first-generation college student who never filled out the FAFSA despite being eligible for the Pell grant because I was intimidated by it, I realize there are millions of students like me that will now have a door to higher education open for them", said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, according to X. "Today @USEDgov released our FAFSA support strategy, we're: Deploying personnel to help colleges prepare & process financial aid forms. Directing funding for technical assistance & support for under resourced colleges. Releasing tools to help colleges deliver federal aid."
In a news release from the U.S. Department of Education, it was stated that the Expected Family Contribution formula has been replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation to account for inflation. This change will result in an additional $1.8 billion in aid being distributed to students due to the updated SAI tables.
Secretary of Education James Kvaal commented on these changes, saying, "The better FAFSA makes it as simple and easy as possible for families to get help paying for college, and updating our tables will help even more students get the help they need." Kvaal continued by emphasizing the importance of these updates in helping students qualify for maximum financial aid and expressed gratitude towards financial aid advisers, college counselors, and others who are assisting in prioritizing students' needs.
According to the same news release, the department plans to provide Institutional Student Information Records to colleges in March. This will allow students to make corrections to their applications if necessary.
Federal Student Aid Chief Richard Cordray also spoke about this matter, stating that "Students, parents and families continue to share with us how easy and fast it is to complete and submit the 2024–25 FAFSA form." Cordray reaffirmed their commitment towards ensuring stable and secure access for students and families to more than $114 billion in federal financial aid. He underscored how vital this support is for pursuing higher education, particularly within underserved communities, and acknowledged its positive impact on millions of lives, their communities, and ultimately, the country.
