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FAFSA FAQs

File the FAFSA

2024-25 FAFSA

How is the 2024-25 FAFSA different from other years?

  • Fewer questions – the number of questions has been reduced to 36.
  • Easier to add income and tax information - Students, spouses, and parents will use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) to retrieve their 2022 tax information or non-filing status. 
  • Name change to SAI – the FAFSA will calculate a Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of an Expected Family Contribution [EFC].  The Student Aid Report (SAR) will become the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS).
  • More income excluded - larger income protection allowances will exclude more income, which will increase financial aid eligibility. 
  • The number of students a family has enrolled in college will no longer factor into the FAFSA calculation. This decision was made by Congress.
  • The FAFSA will no longer require these untaxed items: payments to tax-deferred retirement or pension plans, veteran’s non-educational benefits, worker’s compensation.
  • Divorced or separated parent changes - the parent who provided the most financial support in the last calendar year (2022) will need to provide their information on the 2024-25 FAFSA. 

FSA ID

Why do I need an FSA ID?

Students and parents need to sign up for an FSA ID to add information and sign the FAFSA.

  • If your parent or spouse filed taxes separately, both parents and your spouse will need their own FSA ID.
  • If your parent or spouse does not have a Social Security Number, they can still sign up for an FSA ID account. They may be required to upload identity documents to the US Department of Education.

How do I create an FSA ID?

Create an FSA ID at studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account. You will need your social security number and your own email address. An FSA ID can take three days to be verified and created, completing this process ahead of time means you will be all set when you are ready to complete the FAFSA.

FAFSA contributors

Who is a FAFSA contributor?

Anyone required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form is considered a contributor. This includes the student, but could also include the student’s spouse, parent, or stepparent. Being a contributor does not imply responsibility for the student's college costs. Studentaid.gov has more information about determining your contributors.

You will need to add the names and email addresses of your contributors to your FAFSA.

My parents are divorced or separated, which parent information do I add to the FAFSA?

You will need to add the parent who provides the most financial support to the student. This may not be the parent you lived with most in the past 12 months and not necessarily the parent who earns the most. One parent could have a higher income and not provide any support to the student.  Another parent may have less income but provide the majority of financial support for the student and needs to be added to the FAFSA. 

Is this email inviting me to contribute to the student’s FAFSA legit?

The email will come from Federal Student Aid and the links in the email will take the contributor to studentaid.gov. You have 45 days to complete the FAFSA. Contributors will receive an email invitation every 7 days. After 45 days your FAFSA application is deleted, and you and your contributors will need to start over.

General FAFSA information

When can I fill out the 2024-2025 FAFSA?

You can fill out the FAFSA now at studentaid.gov/fafsa.

Is there a deadline to file the FAFSA?

We encourage students to file the FAFSA as early as possible. This is to meet State and scholarship deadlines. Filing it out early also allows you enough time to submit documentation for review when needed.

To be considered for the WSU Guarantee program we must receive your FAFSA by May 1, 2024.

Which FAFSA do I file?

Complete the 2024-25 FAFSA for these semesters: Fall 2024, Winter 2025 and spring/summer 2025 semesters.

If you are going to be enrolling in spring-summer 2024, please be sure to complete the 2023-24 FAFSA and/ or add Wayne State University’s school code to your application.

Students in the MD program need to complete the 2024-25 FAFSA for these MD semesters: Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025. 

What is Wayne State University’s school code?

Our federal school code is 002329.

Awards

When will I hear about my financial aid eligibility?

2024-25 financial aid offers to new freshmen have begun. If you haven't received an award offer, we encourage you to check the status of your FAFSA at studentaid.gov. We expect to send 2024-25 financial aid offers to new undergraduate transfer students beginning in May. Continuing undergraduate and graduate students will receive their offers beginning in June.