U.S. Department of Education Announces More Than 3.1 Million FAFSA Forms Successfully Submitted and an Update to Student Aid Index Calculation
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) today released new data that shows more than 3.1 million Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) forms have been successfully submitted since the 2024–25 redesigned application went live on Dec. 30. The new data comes a little more than three weeks after the Department announced more than one million FAFSA forms had been submitted and the form’s 24/7 accessibility.
Additionally, the Department has updated the supporting tables used in the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation—which replaced the Expected Family Contribution formula—that account for inflation. The updated SAI tables will allow students to benefit from an additional $1.8 billion in aid and ensure that all students can access the maximum financial aid they are eligible for.
“The Better FAFSA makes it as simple and easy as possible for families to get help paying for college, and updating our tables will help even more students get the help they need” said Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. “Updating our calculations will help students qualify for as much financial aid as possible. Thank you to the financial aid advisers, college counselors, and many others helping us put students first.”
“Students, parents, and families continue to share with us how easy and fast it is to complete and submit the 2024–25 FAFSA form,” said Federal Student Aid Chief Richard Cordray. “We remain committed to ensuring students and families have stable and secure access to more than $114 billion in federal financial aid. We know how crucial this support is to pursue higher education, particularly for the most underserved communities, and the positive ripple effects an education beyond high school makes in the lives of millions, their communities, and the country.”
To further support schools and state agencies, the Department will begin transmitting batches of FAFSA information—known as the Institutional Student Information Record or ISIR—to these partners in the first half of March. Students will also be able to make corrections to their form starting in the first half of March. We are continuing to test several vendor-built systems and we will provide regular progress updates to schools and stakeholders as we move forward.
A Better FAFSA Form
The launch of the simplified, redesigned, and streamlined 2024–25 FAFSA form ensures 610,000 more students from low-income backgrounds receive Federal Pell Grants. Additionally, Pell recipients will receive more aid with nearly 1.5 million more students receiving the maximum Pell Grant. Today’s new FAFSA data underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision and commitment to deliver the most significant overhaul of the FAFSA form since its inception, almost four decades ago.
Continued Commitment to Support a Better FAFSA Experience for All
The Department has been working tirelessly to ensure the 2024–25 FAFSA form successfully improves the user experience for all users, particularly students and their families. The Department remains committed to provide helpful tools and information for students and parents on StudentAid.gov including notifying—via email—previous FAFSA applicants who have not yet submitted a 2024–25 FAFSA form; and provide resources and support for counselors, mentors, college access organizations, postsecondary schools, and state agencies through webinars and updates on FSA Partner Connect.