The application for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 financial aid would typically open on Oct. 1, but this year, it opened in late December. For more details, review our article on the 2024-25 FAFSA delay.
Contributors
A contributor is anyone required to provide information, a signature and consent/approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly into the FAFSA. This typically includes the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent or a stepparent. Contributors are not financially responsible for the student’s education.
Student and parent/contributor sections
The application is role-based and the student and parent each need an FSA ID and will be prompted to complete their sections separately. Neither the student nor the parent will be able to access the other’s section and info. The FSA ID can be set up before the FAFSA opens.
Consent to provide tax information
- Provide consent to transfer 2022 tax information to the FAFSA.
- Consent must be provided to be eligible for federal aid even if you don’t file U.S. federal tax returns.
SAI is the new EFC
- The new term is the Student Aid Index (SAI) and replaces the often misunderstood Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
- The SAI is a number presented to students and families upon submitting the FAFSA and is used by schools to determine financial aid.
- Students and families can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator for an estimate of their SAI and Pell Grant eligibility.
What happens after you submit
First, you'll get confirmation from the federal government
You’ll receive an email confirmation from the Department of Education that includes your SAI and Pell Grant eligibility (if applicable) upon completing the FAFSA.
In March, we'll let you know that we got your FAFSA
CU Boulder will not receive student files right away. The earliest we can confirm we received your FAFSA will be mid-March. We’ll send an email notification at that time.