Important Information & Updates

2025-2026 FAFSA available during expanded Beta Testing

Since October 1st, the 2025-2026 FAFSA form has been available to individuals selected to participate in a limited beta release. The 2025-2026 FAFSA form is available to all students and their contributors during the expanded beta testing period. 

What is beta testing?

A "beta" is an early release of a technology product. Beta releases made the FAFSA available to a limited number of users before releasing it to all students. This practice enables Federal Student Aid (FSA) to find and resolve errors that could complicate the FAFSA process for students and their families.

Prepare to Fill Out the 2025-2026 FAFSA

Before you start your FAFSA form, here are some ways to get ready:

Why did the FAFSA change?

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

What changed?

The FAFSA will be shorter and more user friendly.

The FAFSA will reduce the maximum number of questions from 108 to 46. And because the FAFSA on the Web is dynamic, some students won’t be presented with all 46 questions. This streamlined format will simplify the application process and make it less complicated for students and families.

 

Students may list up to 20 colleges.

Previously, the FAFSA only allowed students to list up to 10 colleges and universities.

The FAFSA will be available in more languages.

Currently, the FAFSA is only available in English and Spanish. The 2024-2025 application will be expanded to include the 11 most common languages spoken by English learner students and their parents.

Applicants will be required to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange.

Previously, users had the option to enter their tax information manually or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Beginning with 2024-2025, all persons on the FAFSA will be required to use the IRS Data Exchange to share tax information or confirm non-filing status. This change makes it easier to complete the FAFSA and reduces the number of questions to be answered.

All contributors must provide financial information.

A contributor refers to anyone who is required to provide information on the student’s form (such as a parent/step-parent or spouse). A student’s or parent’s answers on the FAFSA will determine which contributors (if any) will be required to provide information.

Contributors will receive an email informing them that they have been identified as such, and will need to log in using their own FSA ID (if they don’t already have one) and will be required to provide the required information on the student’s FAFSA.

Being a contributor does not mean they are financially responsible for the student’s education costs, but it does mean the contributor must provide information on the FAFSA or the application will be incomplete and the student will not be eligible for federal student aid.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is replacing Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

The name more accurately describes the number used to determine aid eligibility and, unlike EFC, the SAI may be a negative number down to -1500.

The number of household college students will not be used to calculate the SAI.

Previously, the FAFSA calculated the number of household members attending college into the EFC, dividing it proportionately to determine federal aid eligibility. Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the application will still ask how many household members are in college, but your answer will not be calculated into the SAI. As such, students with siblings in college may see a change in their federal aid eligibility.

Students may be awarded a Federal Pell Grant.

Families making less than 175% and single parents making less than 225% of the federal poverty level (link to website) will see their students receive a maximum Federal Pell Grant award. Minimum Pell Grants will be guaranteed to students from households below 275%, 325%, 350% or 400% of the poverty level, depending on household structure. Pell Grant awards between the maximum and minimum amounts will be determined by the SAI.

The parent responsible for submitting the FAFSA in situations involving divorce or separation has changed.

For dependent students, financial information was previously needed from the parent(s) the student lived with the most in the last 12 months. With the new FAFSA, financial information will be required from the parent(s) who provided the most financial support to the student.

Assets related to family farms and small businesses are required to be included in the reporting process.

When required, families must now report the value of their small business or family farm. If the family farm includes the principal place of residence, applicants should determine the total net value of all farm assets and subtract the net value of their principle residence to determine the final value of their farm assets.

Disclaimer

PGCC’s Student Financial Aid Office is dedicated to providing timely updates to students, families, and our community. Due to the significant amount of changes that are occurring, portions of our website may not be 100% accurate for the 2025-2026 academic year. We will continue to update this page as we receive information from the Department of Education and Federal Student Aid. Your patience is appreciated as we work to implement the FAFSA Simplification Act changes.