CONWAY, Ark. — The new version of the FAFSA is now available as the Department of Education started the soft launch in late December.
The simplified version aims to expand financial aid eligibility. Over 600,000 new students are estimated to be eligible for financial aid during the 2024-2025 academic year.
That is one of the main improvements of the new FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
In addition to increasing the number of eligible students, the process will look a little different.
UAPB Chancellor of Enrollment Management Moses Goldmon said it's a more straightforward form.
"It's designed to be more streamlined, less questions," Goldmon said. "In fact, it's estimated that some people may be able to answer 25 or 26 less questions, and they would have had to."
He also explained that these changes will significantly impact incoming students at the university.
"Many of them are first-generation college students, or they come from families or backgrounds where there's not a lot of income," Goldmon said. "They need assistance."
More than 90 percent of UAPB students and families receive federal financial assistance.
"It's a huge help to our student population in terms of aid," Goldmon said. "Of course, we also supplement that with institutional scholarships, with funding from our donors and things of that sort where there may be a gap with some of our students as well."
UCA is also adjusting to the change.
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Courtney Bryant said more improvements are needed during this soft launch period.
"The site is coming down here," Bryant said. "That way, the Department of Education can make adjustments whenever they incur any kind of issues."
Additionally, Bryant said the university's new debt-free tuition program, UCA Commitment, will be an added benefit.
"We were planning... were able to move forward with our debt-free pathway before any kind of FAFSA changes," Bryant said. "It's going to assist students in decreasing their last dollar amount."
Although there are a lot of benefits, Bryant explained that the timing of this FAFSA application may cause some problems for incoming students.
"I'm sure that there's going to be a little bit of angst from students and families," Bryant said. "They won't know what they'll be getting in terms of aid until much later in the college selection process."
According to Bryant, another downside could be that some students might get less financial aid than they did in the past because of the changes.
While filling out the FAFSA is not a requirement, Bryant encourages every student to do it and to remember that FSA IDs are required with the new process.
People have 45 days to complete the application after starting it.
Goldmon said the 2024-2025 FAFSA only gives financial aid to those enrolling in courses beginning July 1st, 2024.
The government reminds everyone the deadline to file is the end of June, with a priority deadline of March 1.
Click here to start the application.