Changes to the 2024–25 FAFSA

Enrollment Deposit Deadline Extended to June 1

As you may be aware from recent headlines and our communications, the delivery of FAFSA data from the Department of Education to colleges is delayed. As we have learned more about the slow roll out of the ISIR data and ongoing efforts to ensure our financial aid packaging process is in good working order to prepare financial aid offers to students and their families, University of Puget Sound has decided to extend our enrollment deposit deadline from May 1 to June 1st. 

Based on the most recent information available, we still anticipate that we will be able to deliver some financial aid packages to students late March or early April. However, it is expected that there may be further delays in financial aid delivery for some students. 

Today, we sent an email to students and families informing them of this change. You can find the content of the email here. Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to expedite the delivery of financial aid offers once we begin to receive FAFSA data from the Department of Education. Please keep an eye on your inbox for updates on the financial aid package delivery timeline.

What You Need to Know

At the University of Puget Sound, we understand that financial aid is a crucial part your educational journey. We want to keep you informed about important updates to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024–25 academic year.

Further Updates on January 30, 2024

On January 30, the U.S. Department of Education released an electronic announcement notifying the public that institutions would not be sent FAFSA data from their school's applicants & students until mid-March. This additional delay in FAFSA processing is due to necessary updates that will recognize important inflationary adjustments needed for FAFSA applicant financial data. This may mean a delay in our ability to provide undergraduate and graduate students with need-based financial aid offers for the 2024-25 award year.

If you have already completed the 2024-25 FAFSA, there is nothing more you need to do at this time.

For first-year incoming students for fall 2024, we have extended the FAFSA deadline from January 31 to February 29. We hope this gives you and your family more time to complete your application and relieves some of the stress of navigating through this time.

For returning undergraduate and graduate students, if you have not yet done the FAFSA, we encourage you to do so by the normal March 31 preference deadline. We will keep students apprised of their financial aid status as we learn more.

If you have questions about completing the FAFSA, you can find help on the FSA website. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact the Student Financial Services staff at sfs@pugetsound.edu or call 253.879.3214

What's Changing?

In 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act, which makes substantial changes to how federal student aid works. The changes being implemented this year include an overhaul of the FAFSA application itself, new processes for determining who is eligible for aid, and updated procedures for colleges like Puget Sound that participate in federal student aid programs.

Here are the biggest changes you’ll notice when you fill out this year’s application:

• Simpler and User-Friendly: The FAFSA is getting shorter and easier to complete. Students will only have to answer 46 questions instead of 108.
• Multilingual Access: The FAFSA will be available in 11 languages.
• Streamlined Data Entry: For most families, you'll need to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange, automatically transferring data from your tax filing to the FAFSA.
• More Pell Grant Awards: Some students will automatically qualify for the maximum Pell Grant, including families making less than 175% of the federal poverty level and single parents making less than 225%.
• Expanded Choices: You can now list up to 20 colleges on your FAFSA application.
• Changed Parent Responsibilities: In cases of divorce or separation, only the parent(s) who provided the most financial support to the student will need to submit financial information.
• New Terminology: The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace Expected Family Contribution (EFC), providing a clearer picture of your financial aid eligibility. SAI will no longer take into account the number of students a family has in college to determine eligibility for aid. Another new term is contributor. A contributor is anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s form.
• Reporting Assets: Family farms and small businesses should be reported as assets.

A lot is changing this year, but don’t worry! Some things remain constant:

• Institutional Aid: Need-based aid offered by Puget Sound is determined by our Student Financial Services office and is based on your FAFSA application and demonstrated financial need.
• Types of Aid: You can still access the same types of aid, and federal student loan limits are not changing.
• Annual FAFSA Application: You'll still need to complete the FAFSA every year to be considered for federal and state financial aid.
• Tax Information and Dependency: The FAFSA will still use income and assets from the prior-prior year, giving you financial clarity and questions determining which parent(s) must provide financial information have not changed.
• Demographic Information: Questions on the form about gender, race, and ethnicity do not impact your eligibility for federal aid. This information is not shared with colleges.

Financial Aid Timeline 

We're here to help make your education at the University of Puget Sound accessible and affordable. The changes to the FAFSA are designed to simplify the process of applying for federal student aid. If you have any questions or need assistance, our team is here for you every step of the way. Your future is bright, and we're excited to be a part of it!

*The FAFSA priority deadline has been extended to February 29 for new undergraduate students. We recommend giving yourself (and your family) plenty of time to complete the FAFSA. To that end, we suggest starting the FAFSA by January 15. Make sure you have your FSA ID and know how to log in. Take a look at the questions so you know what information you’ll need to collect.

Contact Student Financial Services

Q: If I am unable to submit the FAFSA by the Feb. 29 deadline, will you still consider me for financial aid?

A: Absolutely! Even if you are unable to submit your FAFSA by the Feb. 29 deadline, you will still be considered for financial aid. However, please be aware that your financial aid offer may be delayed. We strongly encourage you to submit your FAFSA as close to the due date as possible.

Q: My FAFSA application says it's still under review, what does that mean?

A: The FAFSA application status will remain "in-review" until the Department of Education completes processing and sends the data to the schools listed on the FAFSA application. It is estimated that schools will start receiving FAFSA data in mid-March. Once the FAFSA data is received, we can start processing need-based financial aid awards.

Q: What is the timeline for financial aid?

A: The timeline for financial aid offers is dependent on when we receive the FAFSA data from the Department of Education, sometime in March. As of now, we anticipate providing financial aid offers starting in early to mid-April. This timeline is subject to change should the Department of Education delay sending FAFSA data to schools. We will continue to keep families informed as we get more information.

Q: I've heard due to FAFSA being given to colleges so late some colleges are considering moving back their deadline for commitment—is that true for Puget Sound as well?

A: At this time we are maintaining the May 1 deadline, we believe that we will be able to provide admitted students and their families the information they need to make an informed decision by the confirmation date of May 1. However, should the situation change, delaying release of need-based financial aid, please rest assured that we will work with you and will clearly communicate any updates to timelines. We will ensure that you will always have at least two weeks to review your need-based financial aid package before making your decision to commit to University of Puget Sound.

Q: My FAFSA is based on the tax year 2022.  What happens if my family's financial picture isn't as good now as it was then? What should I do?"

A: Should you or your family’s circumstances be different from the information submitted on the FAFSA, or there are extraordinary circumstances that impact your ability to contribute to your educational expense, we encourage you to contact the Office of Student Financial Services at sfs@pugetsound.edu or 253.879.3214 to discuss your circumstances with a financial aid counselor. We will review your circumstances to determine if a revision to the FAFSA information may be warranted. Examples of circumstances that may warrant a review include: loss of employment, reduction in salary, medical/dental expenses paid out of pocket (not reimbursed), tuition expenses for siblings enrolled in private K-12 schools, siblings enrolled in college, or Parent PLUS Loan payments or other parent educational loan payments.

Q: I already submitted my FAFSA. Is there anything else I need to do?

A: If you have already completed your FAFSA application, there is nothing more you need to do. We are awaiting FAFSA data from the Department of Education, which will begin arriving in mid-March. Once we have FAFSA data and have been able to confirm all of our systems testing using actual FAFSA data, we can process need based financial aid offers. We anticipate we can begin to release financial aid offers by early to mid-April.