FAFSA
2025-26 FAFSA Changes
FAFSA Changes
Big changes happened to the FAFSA beginning with the 2024-25 financial aid application cycle, and the Flagler College Financial Aid team is excited to help guide you through the financial aid application process.
What is the FAFSA and why should you complete it?
What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is how you apply for need-based grants and scholarships as well as federal loans. It’s also necessary to complete the FAFSA to receive a full financial aid offer from Flagler College.
How do you complete the 2025-26 FAFSA?
How do you complete the FAFSA?
Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. Interactive wizards will walk you through the questions and help you determine what information you are required to report on the FAFSA.
- The FAFSA now has a direct link to the IRS, called the IRS Direct Data Exchange, which reduces the number of financial questions you’ll need to answer.
- The FAFSA now refers to “contributors.” A contributor is anyone who needs to provide information on the FAFSA, such as you, a parent/stepparent, or a spouse.
- As part of the FAFSA application, you (the student) will invite any required contributors to provide their information on your FAFSA.
- Don’t experience any delays! Let your contributors know that they will receive an important email from the FAFSA.
- Your FAFSA will not be complete without them.
- You and any required contributors will each need your own FSA ID to complete and sign your portion of the FAFSA.
- Get ahead and start the process by completing this step now: Create your FSA ID.
- Remember to save your FSA ID and password so that you have it available when you complete the FAFSA!
- The FAFSA is not considered complete until all required contributors complete their portions of your FAFSA.
When will I receive my financial aid offer?
When will I receive my financial aid offer?
We understand that you need your financial aid offer, and we are committed to providing this information to you as quickly and accurately as possible. The Department of Education is expected to begin releasing processed 2025-26 FAFSAs to schools beginning in December. We plan to begin releasing financial aid offers on a rolling basis once we receive processed FAFSAs from the government.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
Have questions?
The Flagler College Financial Aid team wants to make sure that you have the answers you need about these changes! We welcome your questions and are here to help you to understand your financial aid. Reach out today for assistance or to schedule an appointment.
Why did the FAFSA change and what changed on the FAFSA?
What changed?
The FAFSA Simplification Act, which was approved by Congress, was a significant overhaul of the FAFSA application form, the application process, and the need analysis formula (which is the calculation that uses the information on the FAFSA to produce the FAFSA result, called the “Student Aid Index” or SAI). Many of the changes are discussed above, but this video provides a helpful review of the key changes that were made in 2024-25 to the FAFSA.