• Federal Student Aid an Office of the Department of Education Logo

    Significant changes were made to last years 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Due to the number of errors / workarounds that were discovered with the application, the Department of Education has postponed the roll-out for the 2024-2025 session.  The application is slated to open on or before December 1, 2024 (it typically will open in October).  We will keep our families updated on this moving timeline. 

    Washoe County School District will offer FAFSA Night Workshops at all high schools throughout the district.  Dates for these workshops will be announced soon.

    When students file the FAFSA, they may become eligible for scholarships or grants (based on need and merit), work-study programs, or low-interest loans. Some of the most beneficial financial aid funds are first-come, first-served. Students are twice as likely to receive financial help for college if they file the FAFSA early. Historically, the FAFSA has been available beginning October 1 each year. The delayed open date of the 2025-2026  FAFSA significantly impacts the need for students to file their FAFSA early, since college and university admission application deadlines will remain the same.

    The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to offer federal student aid starting with the 2024-2025 academic year. This includes a more streamlined application process with a reduction in the maximum number of questions from 108 to 46 and expanded eligibility for student aid.

    A new IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) will replace the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) built into the FAFSA for importing student, parent, parent spouse, and/or student spouse Federal Tax Information (FTI). Previously, users could enter their tax information manually or use the IRS DRT.

    All persons on the FAFSA must consent for the Department of Education to receive tax information or confirmation of non-filing status directly from the IRS. In a minimal number of cases, students and families will have to enter their tax data manually, but for most, that data will be transferred automatically into the application. This change makes it easier to complete the FAFSA and reduces the number of questions.

    The FAFSA will still request tax information from the prior-prior year, which means students will report 2023 income and assets on the 2025-2026 application. Families with significant reductions in income levels can review the special circumstances process.

    Students and families will see a different measure of their ability to pay for college, and they will experience a change in how eligibility for the federal student aid programs is determined. The new needs analysis formula removes the number of family members in college from the calculation, allows a minimum Student Aid Index (SAI) of -1500, and implements separate eligibility determination criteria for Federal Pell Grants.

    Call 800-433-3243 To Speak With A Representative with any questions or concerns

    UNR and TMCC Financial Aid Offices can also help you with the FAFSA application or any questions about Financial Aid, this is a FREE service and you do not have to attend these schools.

     

    FAFSA Facts:

    • When looking at colleges / universities, check to see how they are using the FAFSA.  Some institutions require students to submit a FAFSA for scholarship purposes.
    • FAFSA is FREE - you do not need to pay anyone to prepare it for you.
    • You need to submit a new FAFSA before each academic year in which you want to get aid.  If you plan to apply for aid throughout college, you'll need to fillout the FAFSA each year.
    • Be sure to use a permanent email address on the form, not your high school email, so you can use your FAFSA account throughout college. Be sure to remember your username /password. This will not change.

    Who should fill out the FAFSA?

    • Anyone planning on going to college in the next academic year.
    • Your family does not have to have a low income to qualify for assistance. Even if your family makes $200,000 a year, you may still qualify.
    • You will automatically qualify for a low-interest federal loan when you submit a FAFSA.  These loans are less expensive to pay back than many private student loans.
    • Some work-study programs require FAFSA.
    • Some merit-based scholarships require the student to complete FAFSA to help them determine scholarship amounts.

    Important information about filling out FAFSA

    • Both the Student and the Parent(s) will need to create a federal student aid ID (FSA ID).  You will use this ID to sign the electronic form.  https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch 
    • You can fill out the application either online or through the app.

    When to Submit Your FAFSA: Understanding the Deadlines

    • You should submit the application ASAP because financial aid is often given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
    • College deadlines: when you are applying for aid from a college, deadlines vary by schools, so check college websites or contact the specific college financial aid offices.
    • State deadlines: when you are applying for aid from your state, check your state's FAFSA deadline.
    • Federal Deadline: June 30th is the last day you can apply for federal aid for the following academic year.
    • Remember: Send in your FAFSA as soon as you can, regardless of deadlines, apply early.