FAFSA Simplification Web Center

2021 and 2022 Fiscal Year Student Aid Amounts, Including Changes to Federal Methodology, FAFSA, Pell Grants for Incarcerated Students, Direct Loans, and other Changes

Significant changes to federal student aid policy, including simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), expanding Pell Grant eligibility to incarcerated students, and the repeal of limitations on subsidized loan eligibility for undergraduate Direct Loans were attached to the FAFSA Simplification Act which was part of a larger bill called the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

A subsequent appropriations act (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022) authorized funding for fiscal year 2022 Pell Grants and made technical changes to the FAFSA Simplification Act. 

Analysis of 2022 FAFSA Simplification Technical Amendments

Analysis of 2021 FAFSA Simplification Provisions

NASFAA Resources

FAFSA Simplification Case Studies

This series of case studies demonstrates how changes to the Pell grant eligibility and Federal Methodology formulas will impact students and families under different circumstances and compares outcomes to the current methodology for comparison.

FAFSA Simplification Implementation Checklist for Schools

This checklist was created to help institutions plan for implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2024-25.

Student Aid Index Modeling Tool (NASFAA members only)

This downloadable tool allows users to import their students' data to calculate estimated Pell grant eligibility and estimated SAIs under the new methodology. It allows for comparison to current Pell grants and EFCs so institutions can prepare for the impacts of FAFSA simplification on their campuses.

Legislative Changes to Federal Methodology and the Pell Grant Program, 2021+

This chart summarizes changes to the Federal Methodology formula and Pell grants from 2021 through the 2024-25 award year.

Detailed Summary of Non-Pell/Federal Methodology Changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act and FAFSA Simplification Act Technical Corrections Act 

This chart summarizes changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act that are unrelated to the FM formula and Pell grant eligibility.

Timeline of Effective Dates from the 2021-22 Consolidated Appropriations Acts 

This timeline provides effective dates for provisions of the FAFSA Simplification Act and subsequent technical corrections.

2024-25 Federal Methodology and Pell Formula Changes Flowchart

This flowchart shows how applicant data will flow through the new Pell grant formula and Federal Methodology formula to determine a student's Pell grant award and Student Aid Index.

External Resources

NASFAA Today's News Coverage


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