by Dr. Gladys I. Cruz
District Superintendent
Questar III BOCES
The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) begins this month (rather than its normal October 1 start date due to changes to the application process). High school seniors need to complete the FAFSA form to apply for federal student aid, including federal grants, work-study, and loans. It is free to fill out and can be completed online or by mail. The form applies to a single academic year, so students will need to renew their form in subsequent years.
The FAFSA is important for all students who plan to attend college or trade/career school, regardless of their financial background. Even if you think you won’t qualify for aid, it is still important to fill out the FAFSA. Many states and schools also use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, including potential scholarships.
Legislation passed by Congress in December 2020 outlined several changes to the form, including restructuring the methodology used to calculate aid and expanding eligibility for the Pell Grant. The federal government is simplifying the process to encourage more students to apply. This includes reducing the number of questions from 108 to 36.
Applicants may see a shorter form if they consent to connect the financial information listed on their IRS tax returns to the FAFSA (if not, applicants will need to enter this information manually). The FAFSA uses prior-prior year tax information, so the 2024-25 form will use 2022 tax information. Families that had a significant reduction in income due to extenuating circumstances can still request a special circumstances review.
Across New York State, just under 59 percent of high school seniors completed the FAFSA in 2023, which ranked the state ninth in the country, according to the National College Attainment Network (NCAN). Within the Questar III BOCES region of Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties, completion rates in local districts ranged from 34 to 84 percent. Overall, about 53 percent of our region’s 2,126 high school seniors completed the process last school year, which is lower than the statewide average.
More states are considering or implementing universal policies to boost completion rates and access to financial aid. According to NCAN, 12 states now mandate completion of the FAFSA process for high school graduation. NCAN estimates that 2022 graduates in New York State missed out on $200 million in Pell Grants because they did not complete the form. It also estimates that high school seniors across the country left $3.58 billion in Pell Grants on the table that year – money that could have been used to make higher education more affordable.
The FAFSA deadline for the 2024-25 academic year is June 30, 2024. However, it is important to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible because financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. To begin the process, students and parents will need to create their own Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID at StudentAid.gov. Families are encouraged to request their FSA as soon as possible as it can take up to three days to receive an ID.
Students are also encouraged to list more than one college on their form. Colleges can’t see the other schools you have added, so students should add all the schools they are considering to their form (up to 10), even if they are unsure if they will apply or be accepted. One of the biggest mistakes to avoid is answering every single question on the FAFSA but failing to sign the form with your FSA ID.
I encourage all families with a child considering college or trade school to complete the FAFSA, regardless of their financial situation. Financial aid can make a big difference in helping families afford higher education. Please discuss with your school counselor or visit https://tinyurl.com/nys-aid for more information.
This column appeared in the Register Star and The Daily Mail newspapers.
