Changes to FASFA Form

When it comes to post-secondary education, finances are often the largest contributor to much of the paperwork in the admission process.

Ohio University’s Associate Director of Regional Financial Aid Vicki DeLucas announced changes in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA and explained how changes aren’t always for the worse.

“One of the biggest changes to the FAFSA for this year is; it’s going from approximately 108 questions down to about 38 questions. Which is going to eliminate a lot of tension that people had when filling out the FAFSA, so it’s going to be much shorter,” said DeLucas. “We’re trying to make it easier for families and students to do the process to where they don’t feel that they have to answer question after question.”

The application process for the 2024-25 school year usually begins October 1, but due to the changes FASFA won’t be available until December.

“We are having an event here on October 13th, through the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, open to all high school counselors. And we already had a huge amount of counselors that will be here that day. Amber Gump from Muskingum University and myself will be here. We have a great presentation to give to counselors so they in-turn can go back and help their families and students complete the FAFSA,” explained DeLucas.

DeLucas said they’ll also host several financial aid nights during the following months at different locations across the area to answer questions in-person. Parents and students interested in learning more about the FASFA program and filling out the forms on their own can visit studentaid.gov