Office of Financial Aid

FAFSA Simplification Changes

FAFSA changes continue to be implemented by the

Information on this webpage is subject to change as new information becomes available.

Review before completing the FAFSA, to help the process go smoothly. 

Please be advised that these changes are still being implemented by the Department. If you are attempting to complete your FAFSA and are having difficulties, please review the FAFSA Issues document which may contain your issue and a possible solution. If your issue is not listed, please contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).  

After the FAFSA is Completed

  • Filers who applied using the online FAFSA form will receive an email that they can access their FAFSA Submission Summary by logging in to StudentAid.gov using their account username and password.

  • Review the FAFSA Submission Summary carefully. If it indicates additional information must be provided to ±«Óãtv in order for a financial aid offer to be generated, check and within 5 business days for further instructions.

    • If it indicates there are errors with the FAFSA form that must be corrected, to see how to update the FAFSA.
    • If it indicates additional information must be provided to ±«Óãtv in order for a financial aid offer to be generated, check and within 5 business days for further instructions.

Award Offer Release Dates

Award offers for the 2025-26 year are expected to be sent to students on the following schedule:

  • New Freshmen Students: January 2025
  • New Transfer & Graduate Students: mid-April
  • Contnuing/Returning Students: mid-June 

Check our website and your for updates as these dates may change. 

Once you receive your aid offer, use our to get an estimate of your college expenses for the upcoming school year. 

Unusual Circumstances

Students with unusual circumstances are defined as:

A student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of unusual circumstances which prevent the student from contacting parents. These circumstances could include—

  • human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.)
  • legally granted refugee or asylum status and are separate from their parents, or their parents are displaced in a foreign country
  • parental abandonment or estrangement and have not been adopted
  • abusive or threatening environment or
  • student or parental incarceration and contact with parents would pose a risk to the student.

Provisional Independent Status

Both first-time and renewal applicants who indicate on their FAFSA form that they have an unusual circumstance will be granted provisional independent status. They will be able to complete the form without providing parental information. They will also receive an estimate of their federal student aid eligibility, which will be subject to a final determination by the institution they attend. If a student's institution approves their unusual circumstances, their independent status will carry over when they renew their FAFSA form in future award years, and they will be considered independent for as long as they remain at the same institution and their circumstances remain unchanged.