FAFSA

This year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will open by December 31, 2023. Learn here: why the application has been delayed, what steps you can take before it opens, and how YES Prep will support 100% of eligible seniors to apply for financial aid.

How has the FAFSA Changed

This year, though, will be different for families who have previously completed the FAFSA. The FAFSA is getting its first major overhaul in 40 years to streamline the application process and make it easier for more students to complete it.

Here are a few things to know about the new 2024-25 “Better FAFSA,” as it has been branded by the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA):

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will open by December 31, 2023.
Both students and their parent(s) or guardian(s) must complete the FAFSA and consent to have their tax return information pulled.
Financial information will be pulled directly from the IRS so having your taxes in order is more important than ever.
More families will be eligible for the Pell Grant, but previous factors like having multiple children in college will no longer be considered.

You can learn more about the Better FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/

Supporting the Class of 2024 Complete Financial Aid Applications

YES Prep supports Seniors and their families in completing the FAFSA through the following commitments:

In October and November: Seniors will have the opportunity to create their FSA ID they need to apply in their Senior Seminar Class.
In December: campuses will walk students through the new application in Senior Seminar and support families in setting up their FSA IDs.
In January: students will have dedicated work days in their Senior Seminar where they will work with their college counselors to submit the student form before college financial aid deadlines.
Family Nights: YES Prep campuses will also host family nights to assist families in completing their parts of the application. Information about family nights will be shared by each campus to seniors and their families through family notes and direct communication.

If you have any questions about completing the FAFSA please reach out to your School's College Counselor.

Who Needs to Complete the FAFSA

On the Better FAFSA a new term you will encounter is Contributor.

Contributor is a new term introduced on the 2024-25 FAFSA form. It refers to anyone asked to provide information on a student's FAFSA form:

the studen
the student's spouse
a biological or adopted parent
the parent's spouse (stepparent).

A Contributor is NOT a grandparent, foster parents, legal guardian, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, even if they helped provide for or raise the student.

A Contributor on the FAFSA form doesn't mean they are financially responsible for the student's education costs.

A Contributor will be invited to complete their portion of the FAFSA form by entering their name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address.

A Contributor must provide personal and financial information in their own sections of the FAFSA form. Unlike previous versions of the FAFSA, no one other than the Contributor will be able to enter the Contributor's information.

Being a contributor does NOT implicate financial responsibility. However, if a required contributor refuses to provide their information, it will result in an incomplete FAFSA form, and the student will become ineligible for federal student aid.

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FAFSA

How has the FAFSA Changed

Supporting the Class of 2024 Complete Financial Aid Applications

Who Needs to Complete the FAFSA

In This Section

Important updates on the FAFSA and TASFA