(Updated 12/7/23)

In December 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act. This act will offer a major redesign of the processes and systems used to award federal financial aid. Due to the implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the application will be delayed this year. Usually, the FAFSA is available to complete on Oct. 1; the 2024-2025 FAFSA will be available starting Dec. 31, 2023. This is only temporary. After the 2024-2025 aid year, the FAFSA will return to its usual availability. The U.S. Department of Education also recently released a new Federal Student Aid estimator based on the new Student Aid Index (SAI) which will also provide an estimate of Pell Grant eligibility under the new needs analysis system.


This page features a roundup of proposed changes beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, frequently asked questions, resources and timelines to assist you. Bookmark this page and studentaid.gov for updates.
 

Resources

What is Changing
  • Students and families will find the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, easier to complete with fewer questions.
  • Everyone who enters their information on the FAFSA will be required to create a FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID), even if they do not have a Social Security Number. All FSA IDs must be set up before starting the FAFSA. 
  • Every student and parent must have an FSA ID. If parents filed their taxes separately, each parent will need their own FSA ID to enter information and sign the FAFSA. 
  • Everyone who enters their information on the FAFSA must give the U.S. Department of Education consent to access their federal income tax information from the IRS, even if they did not file a tax return.
  • Family size will come from the number of exemptions reported on the federal tax return used to complete the FAFSA. 
  • The result of completing the FAFSA and entering income and asset information has long been known as the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. It will now be called the Student Aid Index, or SAI. 
  • The number of household dependents attending college will no longer affect the income/asset calculation. 
  • Families may now be required to show the value of their small business and/or farm on the FAFSA.
  • Males between 18-25 years of age will no longer be required to be registered with Selective Service to receive federal financial aid.
  • Residents of Pennsylvania must have met PA State Grant eligibility requirements and must complete the FAFSA by May 1 each year to be considered for the PA State Grant. See pheaa.org for more information.
What is Not Changing
  • The FAFSA still must be filled out annually for federal aid consideration. It is available to U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.
  • Questions introduced in 2023-24 about the applicant's sex, race, and ethnicity remain only for statistical purposes. They have no effect on federal student aid eligibility.
  • Dependency status questions to determine if your parents must provide their information remain the same.
  • FAFSA will still request prior-prior year tax information. Families that had significant reduction in income due to extenuating circumstances can still contact the Office of Student Financial Services at sfs@alvernia.edu to talk about options.
  • Students with unusual circumstances or students who may not be able to provide parental information can still request special circumstances review and contact sfs@alvernia.edu for additional information and support.
  • Federal Education Loans requirements remain the same.
  • Federal Aid Rights & Responsibilities didn't change.
  • Academic Requirements for Federal Aid are required to maintain eligibility.
Helpful Links and Presentations
Helpful Articles
Financial Aid Timeline

The key to financing your education is to plan early and keep your options open. The more you know about how financial aid works, the better prepared you will be to pay for college programs. The following timeline will help prospective undergraduate families. If there are any questions, contact the Office of Student Financial Services at 610-796-8201 or sfs@alvernia.edu. Documents may be faxed to 610-796-8336.
 

August to October

October to May

June to July

Updated FAFSA Terminology
Previous TerminologyNew Terminology
EFC (Expected Family Contribution)SAI (Student Aid Index)
FSA IDStudentaid.gov Account
Parent(s); Parent Spouse; Applicant SpouseContributors
IDR (Income Data Retrieval) & FAFSA SignatureFTI (Federal Tax Information) and Consent
Room & BoardHousing & Food
Student Aid Report (SAR)FAFSA Submission Summary


 

FAFSA Simplification

Office of Student Financial Services



First-Time Students

Congratulations on your acceptance to Alvernia University! Understanding financial aid and the process is an important part of attending college. 100% of Alvernia University students receive some form of financial aid, and it all starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA has been around since the Higher Education Act of 1965, but over the last two years it has undergone major changes. Since you’re new to the FAFSA, the following FAQs should help you to familiarize yourself with the process and get you started. Feel free to contact our office or your Admissions Counselor with any other questions. We are here to help!

 

FAFSA Checklist

Have These Documents On Hand

Having the following information and forms on hand will help you fill out the FAFSA:

  • Your Social Security Number (can be found on Social Security card)
  • Your driver’s license (if any)
  • W-2 Forms from two years prior and other records of any money earned
  • Your (and/or your parents’) Federal Income Tax Return from two years prior — IRS Form 1040, foreign tax return, or tax return from Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated State of Micronesia
  • Any untaxed income records for two years prior — e.g., payments to tax deferred pension and savings plans, tax exempt interest and child support received two years prior
  • Records of taxable earnings from Federal Work-Study or other need-based work programs
  • Records of any grants, scholarships, and fellowship aid that was included in your or your parents’ adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • Any current bank statements
  • Any current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bonds and other investment records
  • Documentation that you are a U.S. permanent resident or other eligible noncitizen, if applicable
     

Source: National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators    

FSA ID/Studentaid.gov Account

The 2024-2025 FAFSA is available starting Dec. 31, 2023. Before you begin your FAFSA, the first step is to make sure your FSA ID/Studentaid.gov account is validated. IDs are linked to your Social Security number and may take from one to three days to validate. It’s best to have your FSA ID/studentaid.gov account validated before filling out the FAFSA. Please note the following reasons why you need to check the status of your ID:

  • Your phone number has changed
  • Your email has changed
  • You haven’t used it in 90 days or more
  • New/updated FSA ID/studentaid.gov IDs may take up to 3 days to validate

 

FAQs

What is the best way to contact you?

You can send us an email or give us a call at 610-796-8201. During the semester, our office is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During the winter and summer breaks, our office is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Do I have to be accepted to Alvernia before I apply for financial aid?

No. You may apply before you are accepted, but you will not receive a financial aid package until you are accepted.

What are my next steps?
  • Even though the FAFSA will not be available until December 2023, you can make sure you and your FAFSA contributors – parents(s), spouses – have a validated FSA/studentaid.gov ID updated. Visit the Federal Student Aid website to log in or create a new account. Validation may take up to 3 business days.
  • Make sure you and your contributors (parent(s), spouse) have your 2022 federal taxes filed. If you need information about filling your taxes, visit the Who Should File a Tax Return page on the IRS website.
  • Attend your high school’s financial aid night. Contact your high school guidance office for the next financial aid info session and sign up.
  • See the Helpful Links section under Resources above to learn more about Wyatt, the digital FAFSA advisor, and see the Helpful Articles section for additional information.
Does Alvernia have merit scholarships without regard to need?

Yes, merit scholarships are available to undergraduate day students. The list of grants and scholarships that are available can be found on our Scholarships and Awards page.

If I'm going to attend part time, what programs am I eligible for?

Several. These programs include Pennsylvania State Grant, Pell Grant and loan programs.

How do I apply for financial aid?

Bookmark our Applying for Financial Aid page for useful information as it will be updated over the next few months.

Do I have to apply for aid every year?

Yes. You must reapply each year if you wish to receive federal, state or institutional need-based financial aid.

Must I pay all at once?

No, however you may pay each semester balance in full, however we cannot take payments for a full award year. Alvernia bills students one semester at a time and you are welcome to use our installment payment plan. For more information on our payment plan, contact the Student Financial Services Office for more information about the payment plan options.

My parents/I don't want to bother filling out the FAFSA because they/I don't think we'll be eligible for anything. Should we skip it?

No, for a number of reasons: eligibility rules are updated each year; Alvernia requires the form for certain institutional aid funds and if you want to work on campus; you just never know what you qualify for, many outside scholarship opportunities will require information from the FAFSA form.

What are my next steps in the admissions process?

Please visit our Admitted Students page to contact your Admissions Counselor. We will be in touch shortly!

I hear the FAFSA is changing, what does that mean?

Please see the FAQs in the Returning Students section below for more information on the updates to the FAFSA. Bookmark this page for useful information as it will be updated over the next few months. Also visit studentaid.gov for more information.

 

A student studies outdoors on Alvernia's campus.
Federal Student Aid FAQs
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form gives you access to the largest source of financial aid: federal student aid. Check out this playlist to find answers to common questions to help you get ready for the 2024–25 FAFSA form. For more answers about the FAFSA process, visit StudentAid.gov.
Watch the Playlist


Returning Students

Welcome back to Alvernia University! We are happy to see you this year and wanted to help remind you of the changes you’ll see with the upcoming FAFSA. You are used to filling out the FAFSA starting Oct. 1st, but the changes being made as of the 2024-2025 academic year has pushed this year’s FAFSA debut to December 2023. The Department of Education has not yet published a date for the FAFSA. Please stay tuned to studentaid.gov for updates.
 

FAFSA Checklist

Have These Documents On Hand

Having the following information and forms on hand will help you fill out the FAFSA:

  • Your Social Security Number (can be found on Social Security card)
  • Your driver’s license (if any)
  • W-2 Forms from two years prior and other records of any money earned
  • Your (and/or your parents’) Federal Income Tax Return from two years prior — IRS Form 1040, foreign tax return, or tax return from Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated State of Micronesia
  • Any untaxed income records for two years prior — e.g., payments to tax deferred pension and savings plans, tax exempt interest and child support received two years prior
  • Records of taxable earnings from Federal Work-Study or other need-based work programs
  • Records of any grants, scholarships, and fellowship aid that was included in your or your parents’ adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • Any current bank statements
  • Any current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bonds and other investment records
  • Documentation that you are a U.S. permanent resident or other eligible noncitizen, if applicable
     

Source: National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators    

FSA ID/Studentaid.gov Account

Even though the FAFSA is not yet available for the 2024-2025 academic year, you and your contributor (parent(s) or spouse) can create or check on the status of your FSA ID/studentaid.gov account. IDs are linked to your Social Security number and may take from one to three days to validate. It’s best to have your FSA ID/studentaid.gov account validated before filling out the FAFSA. Please note the following reasons why you need to check the status of your ID:

  • Your phone number has changed
  • Your email has changed
  • You haven’t used it in 90 days or more
  • New/updated FSA ID/studentaid.gov IDs may take up to 3 days to validate

 

FAQs

What is FAFSA simplification?

FAFSA simplification changes include the first major redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process in over 40 years, along with updates to the backend systems that process and store federal student aid application data. The goal is to make applying for federal student aid easier for students. FAFSA simplification implements provisions of the amended Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act and the FAFSA Simplification Act.

What is the Better FAFSA Better Future campaign?

The Better FAFSA Better Future campaign will communicate FAFSA simplification changes and provide information and resources to aid in the adaptation of these changes.

What are the benefits of FAFSA simplification?

The benefits of FAFSA simplification include:
• a more streamlined application process
• expanded eligibility for federal student aid
• reduced barriers for certain student populations (e.g., homeless and unaccompanied youth, incarcerated students, English language learners, and students from low-income backgrounds)
• a better user experience for the FAFSA form

What major changes will FAFSA simplification introduce?

Significant changes to the application process include changes to the FAFSA form, how students and families complete the application, and the eligibility calculation.

  • The FAFSA form will be updated and streamlined to improve access.
  • The FAFSA form will be expanded to the 11 most common languages spoken by English learner students and their parents. Language-specific resources and support will also be available from FSA Information Center.
  • The form will be consumer-tested with prospective first-generation students and families, as well as students and families from low-income backgrounds.
  • The form will include new demographic questions about an applicant’s gender and race/ethnicity.
  • Foster, homeless, and unaccompanied youth — as well as applicants who cannot provide parental information — will be able to complete the form with a provisional independent student determination and receive a calculated Student Aid Index (SAI). Students who have their independent student status approved by a financial aid administrator will also be eligible for a renewal of their dependency status in subsequent years if their circumstances remain unchanged.
  • Rather than importing their tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, applicants will consent to providing their Federal Tax Information (FTI) via a direct data share with the IRS. This enhanced data sharing simplifies the applicant’s experience.
  • Eligibility for federal student aid will be expanded in the following ways:
    • Selective Service and drug conviction questions will be eliminated to reduce applicant barriers.
    • New methodology will be introduced to calculate and determine applicant eligibility. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI).
    • The new need-analysis formula allows for a negative SAI calculation and implements separate eligibility criteria for Federal Pell Grants.
    • Federal Pell Grant access will be expanded and linked to family size and federal poverty levels, which will allow more students and families from
      low-income backgrounds to qualify.
    • Federal Pell Grant access will be restored to incarcerated students under specific rules and programs.
When will FAFSA simplification be implemented?

FAFSA simplification will be implemented in phases. Certain changes began in the 2021–2022 Award Year and full implementation of major provisions will occur during the 2024–2025 Award Year.

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Office of Student Financial Services
Alvernia's Office of Student Financial Services helps students and their families seek, obtain and make the best use of all financial resources available to them.
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