Important FAFSA Changes for 2024-25

Have you heard about the FAFSA changes this year? Curious how it impacts you?

As you may know, Congress made sweeping changes to the formula used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid, which in turn resulted in the US Department of Education having to overhaul the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the 2024/25 academic year. Most of these changes have more impact on undergraduate students.

The rollout of the new FAFSA has not gone smoothly, creating challenges for some students, and leaving schools waiting until mid-March for data otherwise received in December or earlier. So while some of you may have already completed your FAFSA, SIPA will likely not receive it until after admission decisions have been made.

Fortunately, this will have no bearing on our scholarship selection process, which will proceed on schedule; those admitted applicants who are awarded scholarships will be notified along with their admission decision, as has always been SIPA’s practice. We do still encourage all who are US citizens or permanent residents, or have been granted political asylum in the US, to complete the FAFSA so that we are able to provide you with a complete picture of your financing options, including student loans and Work Study, after you have been admitted. There is no specific deadline, but our review process is on a rolling basis, so those who file their FAFSA sooner will receive earlier responses. The FAFSA is not to be completed by international students.

Please contact the Financial Aid staff at [email protected] with any questions.