FAFSA Information

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Page last updated October 21, 2024

FAFSA Availability

  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA is available now (for spring 2025 enrollment).
  • The 2025–2026 FAFSA form will be available on or before Dec. 1, 2024 (for students beginning enrollment during the summer 2025 or fall 2025 semester).
    • Once you complete the appropriate year’s FAFSA and Suffolk University has access to your application, Student Financial Services will notify you if additional information is needed.

FAFSA Simplification Act

The FAFSA Simplification Act, which was passed by Congress in 2020, represents a significant overhaul of the awarding and processing of federal student aid that began with the 2024-2025 academic year. Changes include updates to the FAFSA form, the need analysis formula that determines federal aid eligibility, changes in terminology and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs.

What is new with the FAFSA due to ‘FAFSA Simplification’?

The shorter form will make it less daunting for students and families.

The SAI replaced the EFC as the eligibility index number used to determine how much financial aid a student will receive. This number results from the information the student (and contributors) provide on the FAFSA.

Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, a “contributor” refers to anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA. This could include the student’s spouse, parent, or step-parent. Students will need the name, date of birth, Social Security Number and email address to invite a contributor to complete their portion of the FAFSA.

Determine if or which parent is considered a Contributor for the FAFSA. In cases of divorce or separation, the parent required to provide information on the FAFSA could be different than in the past. Effective 2024-2025, the contributor for the FAFSA will now be the parent who provided the student with the most financial support in the 12 months prior to completing the FAFSA.

You can create your FSA ID here if you do not already have one. This will be used to complete and submit your FAFSA.

Families must report the value of their small business or family farm if asked to report assets on the FAFSA.

Additional Information on completing your FAFSA

If you have any other questions or concerns about the FAFSA process, your financial aid counselor is available to assist you.

When can I expect to receive my financial aid offer?

  • Admitted students for spring 2025 with a processed 2024-2025 FAFSA on file will receive their financial aid offer once it has been evaluated by their financial aid counselor.
  • Admitted students for Summer 2025 or Fall 2025, with a processed 2025-2026 FAFSA, should receive their financial aid offer in February.
  • Returning students with a processed 2025-2026 FAFSA on file can expect to receive their 2025-2026 financial aid offer in May.

 

Disclaimer

Suffolk University Office of Student Financial Services is dedicated to providing timely updates to students, families, and our community. Due to the significant amount of changes that are occurring, we will 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.

Additional Resources

Admission Information
Student Financial Services Information