Toggle navigation

Applying for Federal Financial Aid

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

To be considered for federal financial aid you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will need to enter the North Dakota State University school code, which is 002997, so your information will be sent to NDSU. The FAFSA information is used to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid. The priority funding deadline date for 2024-2025 academic year is March 1, 2024. If you submit your FAFSA after the March 1st priority deadline your application will still be processed. However, some funding may be limited due to disbursement on a first come, first serve basis.

NOTE: FAFSA applicants cannot make corrections or updates to their 2024-25 FAFSA until mid-April according to the Department of Education.

FAFSA Simplification

The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid beginning with the 2024-25 award year. This includes the FAFSA form and many other policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs. These major changes and improvements have resulted in a delayed launch date of the form which only applies to the 2024-25 FAFSA form.

Understanding FAFSA Simplification and Changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA

There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. As a result, the new form will be available by the end of December 2023. The delayed launch date only applies to the 2024-25 FAFSA form. NDSU Financial Aid and Scholarships will update this page as additional information becomes available to keep you informed.

Why is it changing?

It is changing due to the implementation of The FAFSA Simplification Act. 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 is changing?

Some of the changes include:

  1. A shorter, more streamlined FAFSA application
    There will be fewer questions to answer when completing the FAFSA process. The new FAFSA will be a role-based form meaning students and parents will only see the questions related to their role. It will also be easier to transfer tax information directly from the IRS. The new process is called the Direct Data Exchange (DDX) formerly called the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
  2. New terminology
    You will see new terms such as contributor (anyone who must provide their information on the FAFSA such as a parent or spouse) and consent (each contributor MUST consent to their information being included on the FAFSA).
  3. Replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI)
    Starting with the 2024-25 award year, students and family’s will see a different measure of their ability to pay for college. The SAI is a new need analysis formula that will be used when awarding need-based grants and scholarships. The new SAI is more streamlined and better defined. The new SAI streamlines procedures for students with more complicated income sources.
  4. Family size, not household size, will be reported on the FAFSA
    The definition of family size has changed to align with the number of individuals reported as dependents on the applicant's (independent student) or applicant’s parents' (dependent student) U.S. tax return. Applicants may update family size if it changes after filing the tax return.
  5. Number in College
    The number of family members in college is no longer a factor in the need analysis although the FAFSA will still ask this question.
  6. Net worth of family farms and small businesses are now included.
    The net worth of a business is no longer limited to those with more than 100 full-time employees. Applicants will be asked to report the net worth of all businesses, regardless of the size of the business.

    Net worth of a farm now includes the value of a family farm. However, the value of a family’s primary residence is still excluded.

The changes listed above are not an all-inclusive list. You can visit the StudentAid.gov website's Launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA Form to get general information about the 2024-25 FAFSA launch.

What can I do to prepare now?
  • Check the StudentAid.gov website frequently to stay up to date with 2024-25 FAFSA launch information.
  • Create a Federal StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID) — If you did not submit a 2023-2024 FAFSA form, you will need to create your account by visiting StudentAid.gov. Be sure to remember your username and password so you can submit the 2024-25 FAFSA when it becomes available.
  • Determine if your parent(s) or spouse will be considered a Contributor to your FAFSA and are required to contribute their information to your FAFSA form. If you are having trouble determining which parent to use a contributor you can visit the StudentAid.gov website for more information.
  • If your parent or spouse will be required to contribute their information to your 2024-25 FAFSA, make sure each contributor creates their own StudentAid.gov account. 
    • Note: If a contributor does not have a social security number, they will be able to create an account once the 2024-25 FAFSA has launched.
  • Collect 2022 federal tax information for the student and contributor(s), including net business and/or farm values.
  • View the StudentAid.gov playlist “Preparing for the FAFSA Form” to better understand what information and documents you will need to complete the FAFSA form.