FAFSA Updates

The 2024-25 FAFSA is available. If you have not yet completed your FAFSA, you should do so as soon as possible.

The Federal Processing System has completed reprocessing of the FAFSAs that were affected by various errors. For incoming and current students who meet eligibility requirements, federal aid offers have been sent to AU email addresses. As students continue to apply for aid and complete requirements, we will continue to evaluate and send new aid offers. General and departmental scholarships were awarded to incoming freshmen early to mid-May. General and departmental scholarships will be awarded to transfer students late May, current students mid-June, and professional students in Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine late June. The enrollment deposit deadline and scholarship acceptance deadline for new students has been extended from May 1 to May 15.

Schools will not be able to process FAFSA corrections until late June/early July. This affects students who have been selected for verification and require corrections and students who have been approved for professional judgement appeals. We have contacted our students who are affected by this FAFSA delay.

The FAFSA will be streamlined and more user-friendly with fewer questions.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Federal aid eligibility will be extended to more students. 

IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) makes entering tax information easier and will be required for students, spouses, and parents to transfer their 2022 tax information or non-filing status.

The number of family members in college will no longer factor into the FAFSA calculation.

Untaxed items such as payments to tax-deferred retirement or pension plans, veteran’s non-educational benefits, and worker’s compensation will no longer be required.

Parent assets will now include net worth of all businesses and net worth of a family farm, if applicable.

For divorced or separated parents, the parent who provided the most financial support to the student will need to provide their information. Previously, the parent who the student lived with the most provided their information. If the designated parent is remarried, then the information of the parent’s current spouse must also be provided.

Everyone contributing to the FAFSA must have their own Federal Student Aid account. Each contributor, including the student, will access their account with their own FSA ID (account username and password).  Contributors are encouraged to create an account at least 3 days before beginning the FAFSA so that identity can be validated in advance.