Key Changes

  • The 2024-25 FAFSA is available. If you have not yet completed your FAFSA, you should do so as soon as possible.

  • Although schools are now receiving 2024-25 FAFSAs, there are thousands with processing errors that will require reprocessing by FAFSA.  We have received some of these reprocessed FAFSAs, but many are still awaiting reprocessing.  Federal Student Aid plans to begin reprocessing the remainder of FAFSAs early May.  We are beginning to send federal aid offers and some scholarship offers to incoming freshmen who do not require reprocessing.  Additional offers will be sent as we receive reprocessed/corrected information.  We expect general and departmental scholarships to be awarded to incoming freshmen early May, transfer students late May, and current students late June. We will begin to send federal aid offers for transfer and current students mid-May.  Students should check emails frequently and respond to requests promptly. Please refer to updated aid offer timelines below. The enrollment deposit deadline and scholarship acceptance deadline for new students has been extended from May 1 to May 15.

  • The FAFSA will be streamlined and more user-friendly with fewer questions.

  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

  • Federal aid eligibility will be extended to more students. 

  • IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) makes entering tax information easier and will be required for students, spouses, and parents to transfer their 2022 tax information or non-filing status.

  • The number of family members in college will no longer factor into the FAFSA calculation.

  • Untaxed items such as payments to tax-deferred retirement or pension plans, veteran’s non-educational benefits, and worker’s compensation will no longer be required.

  • Parent assets will now include net worth of all businesses and net worth of a family farm, if applicable.

  • For divorced or separated parents, the parent who provided the most financial support to the student will need to provide their information. Previously, the parent who the student lived with the most provided their information. If the designated parent is remarried, then the information of the parent’s current spouse must also be provided.

  • Everyone contributing to the FAFSA must have their own Federal Student Aid account. Each contributor, including the student, will access their account with their own FSA ID (account username and password).  Contributors are encouraged to create an account at least 3 days before beginning the FAFSA so that identity can be validated in advance. 

Terms to Know

Student Aid Index (SAI): Calculated by FAFSA data and will determine student aid eligibility. This replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that was used in previous years.

Contributor: A parent, stepparent, student, or spouse of the student who is providing information to the FAFSA. 

Consent: Required from all contributors for the IRS to share tax data directly to the FAFSA. If any contributor does not provide consent, the student will automatically be ineligible for aid.

Direct Data Exchange (DDX): Previously known as IRS Data Retrieval; this tool imports tax data directly from the IRS to your FAFSA.

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS): A summary of your completed FAFSA information. This replaces the Student Aid Report (SAR) that was used in previous years.

Ways to Prepare

Apply for your FSA Account. A Federal Student Aid (FSA) Account is required for all contributors including the student. If you already have an FSA Account, you do not need to apply for a new one. For parent contributors without SSN, please follow these instructions.

Determine who your contributors are. The FAFSA will also offer assistance when filing. Students, parents, step-parents, and a student’s spouse may be considered contributors.

Gather 2022 Federal Tax Information and W-2s. All contributors will need this information, if applicable.

When you are in the process of completing your FAFSA, review the accuracy of your data before submitting. Students and contributors will not be able to make corrections to a submitted FAFSA until sometime in February.

Be sure to check your AU email frequently.  If we require additional information from you after reviewing your FAFSA, we will send this request to your AU email beginning mid-February.

2024-25 Application & Aid Offer Timelines

Early Action

Admission Application Deadline: December 1

Scholarship Application Deadline for General and Departmental Scholarships: March 1

General and Departmental Scholarship Notifications: Early May

Begins to Send Federal Financial Aid Offers: Mid to Late April

Regular Decision

Admission Application Deadline: February 1

Begins to Send Federal Financial Aid Offers: Mid to Late April

Transfer Students

Scholarship Application Deadline for General and Departmental Scholarships: March 1

Begins to Send Federal Financial Aid Offers: Mid to Late May

General and Departmental Scholarship Notifications: Late May

Returning Undergrads

Scholarship Application Deadline for General and Departmental Scholarships: March 1

Begins to Send Federal Financial Aid Offers: Mid to Late May

General and Departmental Scholarship Notifications: Mid/Late June

New Graduate & Professional Students

Begins to Send Federal Financial Aid Offers: Mid to Late May

Scholarship Application Deadline for Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine Professional Program Departmental Scholarships: June 1

General and Departmental Scholarship Notifications for Nursing, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine Professional Program: Late June

Returning Graduate & Professional Students

Begins to Send Federal Financial Aid Offers: Mid to Late May

Scholarship Application Deadline for Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine Professional Program Departmental Scholarships: June 1

General and Departmental Scholarship Notifications for Nursing, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine Professional Program: Late June

FAQ

Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025

The priority deadline for general and departmental scholarships is March 1, 2024.  Students must complete the scholarship application through AUSOM to receive consideration for general and departmental scholarships. FAFSA and any requested verification documents should be received by Auburn by March 28 for need-based scholarship consideration.

The priority deadline for federal aid funds such as Federal Supplemental Grant (SEOG) and Federal Work Study is March 28, 2024.  FAFSA and any requested verification documents should be received by Auburn by this date for priority consideration of these funds.

Yes, all contributors must have an FSA Account.

The parent who provides the most financial support to the student should be the contributor on the FAFSA.  If that parent is remarried, then that parent’s current spouse will also be a contributor.

Yes. Invitations to be a contributor will be deleted when they have been inactive for 45 days. Any previously entered information will be deleted and the process will need to start over.

Contact us at finaid7@auburn.edu if you have any additional questions. You can also find answers to your questions about the FAFSA in general on the Federal Student Aid website.

Last updated: 04/29/2024