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FAFSA Changes 2021-22

The 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) season will begin earlier than previous FAFSA application cycles. Beginning on Oct. 1, 2020, students will be able to fill out the FAFSA for the 2021-2022 school year. In addition, applicants will no longer need to estimate income and tax information and will be able to retrieve their data directly from the IRS, right from the first day the FAFSA is available. Students also will have information about their Expected Family Contributions earlier, helping them as they’re going through the college application and selection process.

You’ll use earlier income and tax information. Beginning with the 2021-2022 FAFSA, students will be required to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2021-2022 FAFSA, you—and your parent(s), as appropriate—will report your 2019 income and tax information.

Because you’ll already have done your 2019 taxes by the time you fill out your 2021-22 FAFSA, you may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) to automatically import your tax information into your FAFSA. This change will make the FAFSA easier because you’ll already have done your taxes by the time you fill out your FAFSA, and you may be able to automatically import your tax information into your FAFSA.

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND COLLEGE FROM YOU WILL
SUBMIT THIS FAFSA
YOU CAN
SUBMIT THIS FAFSA FROM
USING INCOME AND TAX INFORMATION FROM
July 1, 2021-
June 30, 2022
2021-22 Oct 1, 2020-
June 30, 2021
2019
July 1, 2022-
June 30, 2023
2022-23 Oct 1, 2021-
June 30, 2022
2020
July 1, 2023-
June 30, 2024
2023-24 Oct 1, 2022-
June 30, 2023
2021
July 1, 2024-
June 30, 2025
2024-25 Oct 1, 2023-
June 30, 2024
2022

First-time Filers

Did you know that you might be eligible for financial aid to help pay for college? Start the process by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA will be available this October 1 for students who plan to attend college between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.

The FAFSA asks for information such as your name and Social Security number, as well as information about your financial situation. After you fill out the FAFSA, watch for offers of financial aid from colleges you’ve applied to and have listed on the FAFSA. Make sure you compare the aid offers to see which school offers the best combination of net cost and “fit” for your academic needs. Once you’re enrolled in college, your school’s financial aid office will pay out the financial aid funds.

Get ready for the FAFSA by creating an FSA ID at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm. You’ll use this username and password combination to sign the FAFSA and access certain websites related to your federal student aid.

Visit StudentAid.gov/fafsa to find out how to fill out the FAFSA and create your FSA ID, what information is needed for the FAFSA, what the deadlines are, and what happens after the FAFSA.

Additional Resources About the FAFSA: