Over 1 Million FAFSA Forms for 2024-2025 Submitted Successfully by U.S. Department of Education, Form Now Accessible 24/7 for Students and Families

“More than a million students and families have successfully completed the ‘Better FAFSA,’ which is now available around the clock,” said U.S. Secretary of Miguel Cardona. “The fact that over a million students were able to complete the Better FAFSA during its brief soft launch period underscores our commitment to making the college financial aid application process simpler and easier than ever before. With the Better FAFSA now live 24/7, we are bringing the federal financial aid application into the 21st century and making affordable higher education accessible to 610,000 low-income students who will be eligible for Pell Grants for the first time.”

The soft launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA form began on December 30, 2023, with periodic availability for students and families while the Department monitored website performance and form functionality in real-time. The Department made pauses for site maintenance and technical updates as needed to enhance the user experience. Now, the form will be continuously available, except for routine maintenance.

“We have received feedback from students and families that the new FAFSA form provides a better experience and is easier to complete,” said Federal Student Aid Chief Richard Cordray. “We understand the importance of students, families, and schools accessing the necessary information on StudentAid.gov to plan for the upcoming school year. We will continue to directly communicate with them about accessing the maximum support available to pursue their higher education goals.”

Expanded Eligibility for Aid and Streamlined Experience

The significant enhancements to the 2024-25 FAFSA form increase eligibility for federal student aid, benefiting an estimated 610,000 additional students who will receive Federal Pell Grants. The maximum Pell Grant award will be given to nearly 1.5 million more students. The updated form also offers a streamlined user experience by presenting relevant questions based on the provided answers. Depending on individual circumstances, applicants can skip up to 26 questions. While the form is expected to take about an hour on average, some applicants can complete as few as 18 questions in less than 10 minutes.

The 2024-25 FAFSA form includes the ability to securely retrieve tax information directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This feature improves the user experience and reduces the time required to complete the form. Students and contributors, such as parents and spouses, must provide consent and approval for the transfer of their federal tax information into the 2024-25 FAFSA form via a secure, direct data exchange with the IRS. This simplifies the process for up to 4 million additional students and families, particularly those with low incomes who are not obligated to file tax returns to confirm their status.

These updates are part of the Department’s implementation of the bipartisan FUTURE Act and FAFSA Simplification Act. The Biden-Harris Administration remains dedicated to delivering an improved FAFSA form and a better experience for students and families accessing federal student aid.