Get ready: 2024-25 FAFSA will open by Dec. 31

While the recent redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has led to a delay in its opening to Dec. 31 this year, students and parents can get ready now. 

A good start for preparing for the FAFSA would be reviewing a summary of the changes by OHIO’s Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at ohio.edu/fafsa-simplification.  The FAFSA Simplification Act, which was passed in 2020, prompted an overhaul of the online form.

“For many students and families, the new FAFSA will be simpler and more streamlined,” said Valerie Miller, assistant vice president and executive director of student financial aid and scholarships. “The number of questions has been reduced, and formulas determining aid eligibility have been modified with the goal of expanding eligibility for financial aid.”

“For many students and families, the new FAFSA will be simpler and more streamlined,” said Valerie Miller, assistant vice president and executive director of student financial aid and scholarships.

The FAFSA serves as the application for all types of financial aid at Ohio University. In the 2022-23 academic year, nearly 15,000 students at OHIO filed the FAFSA. More than $26 million in institutional, state and federal need-based gift aid was awarded to OHIO students in the last year. 

Families should also take note of the 2024-25 FAFSA timeline. OHIO’s priority date for the FAFSA is Feb. 15, 2024, to ensure best consideration for all types of financial aid. Students and parents, referred to as contributors beginning this year, must have an FSA ID. Miller suggests signing up for one at fafsa.gov now to prevent delays in completing the FAFSA.

Students will receive an online confirmation after submitting a FAFSA, but OHIO may not receive the data from the U.S. Department of Education until February 2024. OHIO will mail financial aid offers to incoming first-year fall 2024 admitted students in March. Continuing, new transfer and graduate students will be notified of aid offers by email in April. 

Students and parents who need help completing the FAFSA, including determining which parent’s information must be included, can schedule an in-person or Microsoft Teams appointment with financial aid staff. Visit or contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships with questions 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays in Chubb Hall, Room 020, by phone (740.593.4141), or by email at financial.aid@ohio.edu.  Please note that Ohio University is closed for winter break Dec. 25 - Jan. 1.