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Over a year ago, in March 2023, federal officials revealed publicly for the first time that due to its massive overhaul and redesign, the FAFSA application for the 2024-25 school year would not launch on October 1, as it has in past years. In the months leading up to the public launch, confusion and a lack of guidance left schools scrambling to prepare, while delays, glitches, and errors have continued to complicate the process in the last several weeks. 

The Biden administration has marked the week of April 15-19 as the “National FAFSA Week of Action” and is urging stakeholders to encourage high school seniors to complete their 2024-25 FAFSA form through in-person and virtual events. In order to help boost completions for the FAFSA, which has been incredibly difficult for students due to the delayed and glitchy soft-launch, the Department of Education (ED) is inviting various organizations to engage in activities like workshops, webinars, and community events, as well as amplifying the form through social media campaigns and direct communication through text and email. Learn more about the administration’s efforts to encourage students to complete their application.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Tuesday announced that it was aiming to make FAFSA student corrections available broadly this week, and posted an electronic announcement on Thursday that student corrections were in the final testing phase. However, on Friday, FSA posted four issue alerts on student corrections, with only one workaround posted so far. NASFAA will provide more information as it becomes available. 

Yes. You will want to plan ahead and build in substantial extra time for completion. On December 17, 2023, the electronic Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Assistance Programs (E-App) moved to the FSA Partner Connect website. View the full answer to this question to learn more.

As part of its 2024 National Conference, NASFAA will be facilitating an in-person convening for financial aid administrators (FAAs) and prison education program administrators (PEP administrators). The focus of this convening, from June 14, 3:30 p.m. through June 16, 1:00 p.m. CT, will be on the creation and delivery of the entire spectrum of student and academic advising services for students who are incarcerated. Learn more, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible but no later than April 26.

Schedule your exam now for an exam session during April to take advantage of your knowledge of current Title IV regulations before the Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Knowledge Exam is updated for the 2024-25 award year as of May 1, 2024. Once certified, you never have to take the exam again as long as you recertify based on earning points for continuing to learn! Learn more about the testing process, apply online, and utilize candidate resources to review for the exam. Just be sure to prepare for the right award year based on the date you will take the exam, even if you purchase before the transition date. 

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