Updates to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

ZANESVILLE, OH – The Free Application for Federal Student Aid has been delayed this year.

For many students currently enrolled in college they’re used to seeing the FAFSA open in October. This year the FAFSA form will open sometime in the month of December.

Marcy Ritzert, the Vice President for Enrollment at Muskingum University, said the FAFSA will look different compared to other years.

“It will look a little different, but hopefully more simple,” Ritzert said. “The goal is to ask less questions, there a few of the processes are apparently also going to be simplified.”

Ritzert said students will have a Student Aid Index as opposed to the estimated family contribution. She said this will hopefully benefit the families.

Ritzert said if you’re planning to transfer to another school, the process will remain the same.

“For someone enrolled at one college and they decide they want to transfer to another college, it would be the same thing,” Ritzert said. “They would file the FAFSA, and their financial aid transcript could start the transfer process of financial aid to another school.”

This newly redesigned FAFSA form should be available to students by December 31.

Fore information, you can head to studentaid.gov.