FAFSA Simplification

 Big changes happened last year to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. The Cal Poly Financial Aid Office is dedicated to keeping students, families, supporters and our campus community updated. You can find more information about these changes and how they impact the 2025-26 FAFSA Form at the Federal Student Aid tips page.

Why is the FAFSA changing?

Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act in Dec. 27, 2020. The law includes provisions that amend the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act and includes the FAFSA Simplification Act — a redesign of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. The law makes it easier for students and their families to complete and submit the FAFSA and expands access to federal student aid.

What about the FAFSA changed?

The Department of Education has resolved many of the application's technical issues and has restored the ability of applicants to make corrections. If your application requires a correction (e.g. missing signature, missing parental data, etc.), please log back in and retry. Refer to this guide for how to correct common issues.

For reference, please review Federal Student Aid’s:

• List of application issues, workaround, and fixes.
• List of tips to help families navigate common application difficulties.
• All contributors are required to have an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA. Contributors without a Social Security number will be asked a few knowledge-based questions to verify their identity or will be asked to complete a manual verification process for FSA to verify their identity. Read more detailed instructions and tips for completing the FAFSA with contributors with no SSN.

Application Streamlined

You’ll notice fewer questions when completing the updated FAFSA and a simpler process for transferring tax information directly from the IRS.

New Terminology

You’ll notice a few new terms like "contributor" (anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA, such as a parent or student’s spouse) and "consent" (each contributor will need to consent to their information being included on the FAFSA). Also, the term "Expected Family Contribution (EFC)" will be replaced with the "Student Aid Index (SAI)"–this is a new need analysis formula that we will use when awarding need-based grants and scholarships.

Do these changes impact the California Dream Act Application (CADAA)?

There will be some changes to the CADAA to mirror the updates to FAFSA. Like the FAFSA, the CADAA for 2025-26 will be released in late 2024. The priority submission deadline is March 2, 2025. We will update this page with any information from the California Student Aid Commission regarding additional changes.

How can you prepare?

• Add a calendar reminder to complete your FAFSA at the end of February.
• Sign up for your FSAID - it's required for the FAFSA. If you already have one, perfect! If you don’t, don’t worry, here are instructions for creating one.
• Check this page for updates. As more information and resources become available, we will share them here.

Resources for Students

• Federal Student Aid: What is the FAFSA Simplification Act? | Federal Student Aid
• Federal Student Aid: Tips for the 2025-26 FAFSA Form

Resources for Faculty and Staff

Information sessions for faculty and staff provide information about the updated timeline, new terminology, major application changes, and anticipated impact to students and programs.

Watch a recorded information session