The 2024-25 FAFSA Now Available 24/7

1/11/2024

 

Following the soft launch of the redesigned 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the U.S. Department of Education announced the form will now be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The form will be continuously available except for routine maintenance, typical of any FAFSA cycle. A list of known bugs is available on the Department’s Issue Alerts page, and will be updated in the coming days as issues are identified and resolved.

Any student, regardless of income, who is pursuing higher education or trade school should complete the FAFSA. The 2024–25 FAFSA will allow students to access federal, state and institutional financial aid to attend college between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. You can read more in the U.S. Department of Education press release.

The Minnesota Dream Act, the financial aid application for undocumented students to access in-state tuition rates and state/scholarship aid, will launch later in January 2024.

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Better FAFSA Better Future Webinar Series for School Partners

Federal Student Aid announced two upcoming live webinars for school partners to ask questions about the recent launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA form.

These webinars, presented in question-and-answer format, will focus on questions about the recent launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA form for those who work with students and families to complete the form. Participants can ask questions by typing them into the chat during the webinar.

Participation will be available on a first come, first-served basis and webinars will accommodate up to 20,000 attendees in each session. Video recordings and transcripts of the webinars will be available the week following each live session. More information is available here.

Sessions include:

Better FAFSA Better Future Q&A Session 1

• Date and Time: Jan. 18 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (CT)
• Link to join webinar

Better FAFSA Better Future Q&A Session 2

• Date and Time: Feb. 22 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (CT)
• Link to join webinar

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Need Assistance?

The Federal Student Aid Information Center’s number is 1-800-433-3243 (1-800-4-FED AID) has extended service hours for January through April: 

• Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. CT
• Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CT
• Closed Sundays and Federal Holidays 

Additionally, Minnesota Office of Higher Education Financial Aid staff can help answer questions about the application or process. The number to call is 651-642-0567. Select option 2. The line is answered Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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Get help at Ready, Set, FAFSA! January 2024 Series

Kicking off the new year and assisting with the new FAFSA changes, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Minnesota Department of Education, ECMC's The College Place Minnesota, and Minnesota Goes to College are hosting Ready, Set, FAFSA!, a series of financial aid webinars for Minnesota students and families as they prepare for the college-going process. All sessions will have simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. Questions will be answered live in the chat, and for each session attended, students will be entered to win a $1000 scholarship.

The series, which runs Tuesday evenings, will cover important information related to applying for the FAFSA and Minnesota Dream Act (for undocumented students); general financial aid information; as well as how to understand your offer letters from your selected colleges.

Remaining Sessions Include:

• January 16, 2024, 7 p.m. – Apply for FAFSA

• January 23, 2024, 7 p.m. – Apply for Dream Act

• January 30, 2024, 7 p.m. – Understand your Offer Letter

Click here to learn more and register for each session.