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FAFSA Simplification Act

The Financial Aid Application is Changing

The FAFSA® Simplification Act has introduced a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024-25 award year. This includes changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and many policies that will alter how students apply for aid and the method for determining aid for students.

Here’s some highlights for 2024-25 Financial Aid

  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is now available for students.
  • Streamlined Application Changes:
    • The aid application will have fewer questions, hopefully making it easier for students to complete the application.
    • Fewer questions are asked, and federal tax data is automatically transferred from the IRS starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA®.
  • New Terminology:
    • With the 2024-25 FAFSA® you can expect to see and hear words such as contributor (anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA® like a parent or spouse) and consent (each required contributor is required to consent to their information being included on the FAFSA®).
    • The “Expected Family Contribution” (EFC) is going away and replaced with the “Student Aid Index” (SAI). This number measures the student and/or family’s ability to pay for college.
  • Expanded Access to Federal Pell Grant:
    • Expanded eligibility based on family size (not including number in college) and federal poverty level allows for more students to receive Federal Pell Grants.
    • Incarcerated students in federal and state penal facilities may be able to receive Federal Pell Grants.
    • Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility is restored to students whose school closed when they were enrolled or if the school is found to have misled the student.
  • The types of aid available to Seattle Colleges College students 
  • The FAFSA is still required to be submitted every year
  • Dependency status questions that determine if your parent(s) must complete the FAFSA with you remain the same
  • Tax information from the prior-prior year is still collected.  This means you report 2022 income and assets on the 2024-2025 application.

Watch what the federal government has to say about FAFSA® Simplification in their YouTube video.

How Is the WASFA Being Impacted? 

  • The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) for 2024-2025 is now available for students.
  • Create a WASFA account if you do not already have one at https://wsac.wa.gov/WASFAelig.  Use this form to keep track of your WASFA account information.
  • Check back here for any changes to the WASFA and state aid.
  • Follow Washington Student Achievement Council’s WASFA website as well for additional resources.
  • Schools are expected to begin receiving FAFSA applicant information in early March 2024 from the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Due to changes in the application, we expect the ctcLink Financial Aid modules (used by all 34 Washington Community and Technical Colleges) to be available beginning the week of June 10, 2024.
  • This impacts the college's  processing timeline and initial aid offers will be delayed. Students who have applied for aid can and should still register for both summer and fall quarters when registration opens in May. Students can register for summer and/or fall quarters starting May 13 (continuing students) and May 20 (new students).
  • Student should check their financial aid status and outstanding checklists in using the Financial Aid Tile in the ctcLink Student Portal.
  • Updates to the anticipated time will be posted here as they become available.
  • Students who are receiving scholarships through specific programs (i.e. Seattle Promise, Workforce Education, etc.) should check with their program for updated deadlines. 
  • In general, students who submit their 2024-25 FAFSA or WASFA by July 1 will be on track for their financial aid to be processed in time for the start of fall 2024 quarter. 
  • Seattle Colleges processes financial aid applications on a rolling basis. Submit your application as soon as possible (even up until the quarter begins) so we can process your FAFSA or WASFA data and help you get funding for college.
  • Updates will be posted to this webpage, please check here for new information.
  • Please encourage students to register for classes.
  • Financial aid will begin reviewing eligibility and sending award letters as soon as possible. Student should be encouraged to check their financial aid status and outstanding checklists in the ctcLink Student Portal, Financial Aid Tile.