Submit your FAFSA before May 1 priority deadline

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is open for the 2025-26 award year with a priority deadline of May 1, 2025. This year’s FAFSA builds upon a streamlined process, following the FAFSA Simplification Act from the Department of Education.

The act marked an overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. While it initially caused delays in student aid packages due to complications, the Department of Education has since addressed those issues. Director of Financial Aid Kyle Parsons assures students that this year’s FAFSA will provide a smooth, user-friendly experience.

A man in a suit and tie is smiling. — Kyle Parsons

“We’re seeing a much smoother process for completion,” said Parsons. “It’s now that ideal scenario of what the Department of Education and Federal Student Aid had hoped for when they launched it last year.”

The FAFSA will directly import financial information from the IRS website so the user will no longer need to manually input financial information from tax returns. As a result, students may receive student aid packages earlier in the school year with fewer students being required to complete the Federal Verification Process.

Another change includes expanding access to Federal Pell Grants to more students and linking eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level. Parsons explained that the updated methodology allows some students to receive an increase in their Pell Grant amounts compared to the previous formula.

The FAFSA will also take less time to complete due to fewer questions for the user to answer.

“We know that life happens in a matter of a couple of years, so what was accurate in 2023 may not be in 2025. A lot of students don’t know that we can actually work with students to update their reported financial information if it’s not an accurate reflection of their current situation. We can work with students through special circumstances and professional judgment to be able to account for those changes in their life to make sure that the FAFSA is an accurate representation of their current situation.”
Kyle Parsons, director of Financial Aid

Students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA by the May 1 priority deadline to maximize the amount of aid possible. Current students applying for financial assistance for Fall 2025 can expect to receive aid packages by late spring to early summer. Students in need of help can look for spring events with Financial Aid representatives offering one-on-one help during tabling events.

Reach out to the Office of Financial Aid for any questions, concerns or assistance by calling 706-737-1524 or email.