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Home / News / Soft Launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form

Soft Launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form

Posted byBrian Nguyen

As the soft launch of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unfolds, we welcome students and their families with cautious excitement. This critical step toward securing financial aid for college promises an expanded scope of eligibility and a more streamlined user experience. However, it’s important to note that, like any new system, there may be glitches and unexpected errors. The Future Ready Team is here to assist all SDoL seniors and their families as they navigate this process, ensuring a smooth transition into the next chapter of education.

During the soft launch, the FAFSA form will be available for short periods of time while Federal Student Aid monitors site performance and form functionality. They will initiate pauses for site maintenance and to make technical updates as needed to provide you with a better experience.

You can complete the form to apply for financial aid to help pay for attendance at college between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. You will have plenty of time to complete the FAFSA form. If you do submit your form during the soft launch, your information will be saved, and you won’t need to resubmit your form or any related information. If your form is unavailable when you or your family members try to access it, please try again later.

What’s New
The 2024-25 FAFSA form brings promising changes, aiming to make the application process more accessible and efficient. Notably, eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, has been expanded, potentially opening doors for 610,000 new students from low-income backgrounds. The streamlined user experience allows applicants to skip up to 26 questions, tailoring the form to individual circumstances and potentially reducing completion time to under 10 minutes.

Important Reminders:

As you embark on this journey, here are some key reminders to ensure a successful FAFSA application process:

  1. Create Your FSAID: If you haven’t already, take the time to create your Federal Student Aid ID (FSAID). This unique identifier is essential for accessing and signing your FAFSA form securely. Visit the federal student aid website (https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support) for detailed instructions.
  2. Visit the Federal Student Aid Website: The official Federal Student Aid website is a valuable resource for information and support. Be sure to explore the site for updates, announcements, and additional guidance on completing your FAFSA form.

What Happens After You Submit

When you submit your completed 2024–25 FAFSA form, you’ll get an email confirming that we received your form with preliminary information related to your eligibility for federal student aid. This will include your estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) and estimated eligibility for Federal Pell Grants.

In late January, your FAFSA eligibility information will be sent to your school(s) and state. Your school(s) will then offer personalized aid information, allowing you to plan for the coming academic year. Keep in mind that until your school(s) and state receive your form, inquiries about your aid eligibility or status may not be answered.

Remember, the School District of Lancaster’s Future Ready Team is here to support you every step of the way. They will be holding workshops at McCaskey High School, Phoenix Academy and other locations.  For any questions, contact Phillip Jago at pcjago@sdlancaster.org.