The U.S. Department of Education confirmed last Tuesday that a simplified version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will debut in December. 

According to Higher Ed Dive, Congress approved changes in the legislation of FAFSA in 2020 and that the plan was to initially have it available for students in the 2023-24 academic year. However, problems with the department's antiquated technology delayed its implementation to the 2024-25 school year. 

The announcement came after organizations had pressured the department for more information regarding dates, as “states, colleges and access groups would need time to make significant adjustments to their systems and processes based on the FAFSA release date,” stated Higher Ed Dive. 

Demonstrations and webinar information sessions about the update and how to navigate it will be offered by the Education Department. This makes college access advocates satisfied, as they have been pushing for years for a simplified application process for students and families. 

NASFAA President Justin Draeger, President of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), said in a statement that the higher education world is preparing for “once-in-a-lifetime changes to how students apply for and receive financial aid.”

“While these myriad improvements may go unnoticed by those who don’t work directly with students, there are a number of behind the scenes updates to systems and processes that are absolutely critical to a smooth transition,” he added. 

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