Updated FAFSA form has caused delays, leading to substantially fewer Florida applications

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
·4 min read

Students across the United States have encountered issues applying for federal college grants and loans after a new version of the federal student aid application, known as the FAFSA, underwent changes for the 2024-2025 school year.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, since a “soft launch” of the new form on Dec. 31, the U.S. Department of Education has been inundated with complaints from students locked out of their accounts, waiting endlessly on the department’s help line or left unable to correct simple mistakes. The Times reports applications are down 33% in Florida and over 40% at the state's poorest schools.

Many are worried that the process, plagued by delays and bugs, could keep many students from attending school this year or deter them altogether.

Here is what to know about the new 2024-2025 FAFSA application.

What is FAFSA and how does it work?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), provided free by the government, allows students to apply for financial aid. It uses financial information provided by you and your family, if applicable.

Once you complete the form, it will be sent to any schools you want to attend. The new application will be sent to up to 20 schools. Schools that admit you will send you a financial aid package.

Why did the federal government change the FAFSA application?

The new version of the FAFSA application was created in good faith to make it easier for students and families to complete the form. The rework reduced the total number of questions from 100 to just 36. It should also help increase the eligibility for financial aid for low− and middle-income students.

Here's a look at some of the major changes:

Student aid index − The Expected Family Contribution formula was replaced with another one called the Student Aid Index, which determines how much financial aid a student can receive. The new formula doesn't benefit families with multiple students in college, and it allows students from families that are not required to file federal income taxes to be automatically considered for a high financial aid amount.

New IRS Data Retrieval Tool − The new form requires all contributors to give consent for their IRS information to be directly imported into the FAFSA. Those who do not consent will be ineligible to receive financial aid.

More languages − The FAFSA application is now available in 11 languages. It was previously only available in English and Spanish.

Federal Pell Grant eligibility − The Education Department now estimates that 610,000 new students will be eligible for a grant, bringing the number of eligible students up to 5.2 million. Incarcerated students in a federal or state facility will once again be able to receive a Pell Grant. Lifetime eligibility was also restored to students whose school closed while they were enrolled or if the school was found to have misled the student.

Who should complete the FAFSA form?

Anyone planning to attend college in the upcoming school year should apply. It's recommended to apply even if you think your family makes too much money to be eligible.

Financial Aid Estimator

You can use this free tool to determine how much federal student aid you may be eligible for. It only takes about 5-10 minutes to complete and all you need is the student's financial and personal info, the parents' financial info and the student's spouses' financial info, if applicable.

What do I need to get started?

Here are some things you might need, depending on your situation, to fill out a FAFSA form:

  • Your parents' SSNs if you're a dependent student

  • Tax returns

  • Records of child support received

  • Current balances of cash, savings and checking accounts

  • Net worth of investments, businesses, and farm

You and a parent (if you're a dependent) must also sign up for individual StudentAid.gov accounts.

How do I check the status of my FAFSA form?

Checking your FAFSA status is easy. Log into your StudentAid.gov account. Once logged in, you can find your application status in the Status Center under "My Activity," displayed after logging in if you've already started or completed the form.

When is FAFSA due?

The federal deadline for the FAFSA form is 11:59 p.m. CT on June 30, 2025. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on Sept. 14, 2025.

Colleges and career/trade schools may have separate deadlines. Be sure to check with the schools you're interested in attending to ensure your form is submitted on time.

In Florida, FAFSA applications must be submitted by May 15, 2024. Check with the financial aid office at your college or career school of choice for other deadlines and/or additional forms that may be required.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: New FAFSA update leads to fewer applications in Florida. What to know