PASCO, Wash. – The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA opening is delayed and is expected to begin sometime in December. Columbia Basin College has hosted financial aid workshops explaining the upcoming changes.
Melanie Casciato, the Director for Student Recruitment at CBC, said this is the most significant change to the application in 40 years.
The Department of Education is working on streamlining the application process by rolling out Better FAFSA Better Future. This is an effort to make applying for college more user-friendly.
According to Casciato, the changes will make filling out the application easier.
“This year, they are simplifying that process by reducing the number of questions being asked on the FAFSA to help students and families navigate that process,” said Casciato.
According to the Federal Student Aid website, in December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriation Act. The law has provisions that amend the Future Act, including the FAFSA Simplification Act.
Beginning in the 2024-25 award year, the Student Aid Index will replace the Expected Family Contribution on the FAFSA form.
Casciato said you’ll also be able to skip questions that don’t pertain to you all to ensure the student is eligible for the maximum amount of aid possible.
“Additional Pell Grant eligibility is the hopeful goal and outcome for this,” she said.
This change is for more than just CBC; Jacqueline Escareno is a first-year student at WSU Tri-Cities. She said the new changes to the application are a good thing.
“It helps a lot with people,” Escareno said. “It gives you an opportunity. If there’s a chance, take it because you won’t have to struggle with finding other ways to pay.”
Casciato said now is the time to apply since FAFSA is delayed. She encourages any and every college student needing help to fill out an application.
“We want individuals to know financial aid is available to them now,” said Casciato.
CBC will host a Financial Aid Workshop at Work Source in Kennewick on November 14 from 9 am to noon.
It will also hold a Financial Aid and Career resource night on November 16, starting at 4:00 pm and ending at 7:00 pm at the CBC SWL building on campus.
According to Casciato, the Department of Education is legally required to have those changes in place by the end of December 2023. The Better FAFSA Better Future application will take effect in Fall 2024.