FAFSA Simplification

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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application is different than past applications for the 2024–2025 aid year.
 

  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA is .
  • The 2024-2025 California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is .
  • The priority submission deadline for the 2024-2025 FAFSA and CADAA was May 2, 2024.

You can still apply for aid for 2024-2025 after the priority deadline (May 2, 2024)!
The priority deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year was May 2, 2024. Keep in mind that students may not be eligible for certain types of aid if they submit an aid application after the priority deadline (such as ºÚÁÏÍø or California state-funded aid) but are still encouraged to apply. While students should apply for aid as soon as possible, the final deadline to apply for aid for the 2024-2025 academic year is June 30, 2025.

Are you a current ºÚÁÏÍø student? Join us for an upcoming FAFSA Q&A session via zoom! Workshop details and how to sign up are below:

Format:  ZOOM (Limit to 50 students per session)
Dates:    Fridays, May 10 - May 31, 2024
Time:     8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
 

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Beach Connect App


Join the workshop by logging in to your ºÚÁÏÍø SSO and selecting the Beach Connect app.

The Features:

  • FAFSA Simplification Overview
  • Getting Started with the 2024 - 2025 FAFSA
  • 2024 - 2025 Student Section
  • 2024 - 2025 Contributor Section
  • Understanding the Student Aid Index (SAI)
  • ...and more!

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Explore Frequently Asked Questions:

Select a question below to view the answer. You may also use the Ask Elbee Chatbot 24/7 or . Still need support? Contact ºÚÁÏÍø Financial Aid and Scholarships.

  • Students and parents/guardians will not be able to access the 2024-2025 FAFSA form without an FSA ID. Be sure to  if you haven't already.
  • If you do not have a Social Security number (SSN),.
  • If you or a parent/guardian do not have a SSN, and are in the progress of validating your identity within the FAFSA process, you will still be able to submit your FAFSA app (as of April 30, 2024).
  • Students interested in learning more about the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) may connect with ºÚÁÏÍø's Dream Success Center for additional support.

New FSA users who request a account and cannot validate their identity using the knowledge-based questions (as generated by TransUnion), may still complete the manual process to validate their identity. 

As of April 30, 2024 you will not need to wait for identity (for yourself or a family member) to be validated before submitting your FAFSA or CADAA. This means students or family members who do not have an assigned SSN may still submit their FAFSA/CADAA forms.
 

As of April 30, 2024 students or family members who do not have an assigned SSN may still submit their FAFSA/CADAA forms. Identity validation does not need to be fully completed before using an FSA account username and password to access and complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA.
Individuals awaiting the results of the identity validation process may use their account immediately.
 

All students who have submitted a 2024-2025 FAFSA are currently "in review." No action is needed as long as you received a confirmation email that your FAFSA was submitted.

FAFSA Submission Summaries (FSS) and FAFSA corrections are expected to be available sometime in late March. Until then, no action is needed as long as you received a confirmation email that your FAFSA was submitted. The U.S. Department of Education will send out updates when these tools are available.

It is expected that ºÚÁÏÍø will receive student aid data from the U.S. Department of Educationbeginning in late March. Please see below for anticipated processing windows:

  • Newly-Admitted Students: Processing will begin in April and aid packages will be sent out shortly after.
     
  • Current Students: Processing will take place during the spring semester and aid packages will be sent out shortly after the spring semester ends.

First, view the U.S. Department of Education's .

While the is the best source to help you with your individual FAFSA, you may seek general advice and support from ºÚÁÏÍø's Financial Aid and Scholarships team.

Students interested in support with the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) may connect with ºÚÁÏÍø's Dream Success Center.

  • There are less questions to complete on the 2024-2025 FAFSA and a simpler process for transferring tax information directly from the IRS.
  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) has been replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI). This is a new need analysis formula that will be used when evaluating need-based grants and scholarships.

Review the U.S. Department of Education's

This page will continue to be updated as resources and information become available. (Last Updated 04/30/2024).