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FAFSA Simplification

Learn about the changes to the FAFSA process and how they can help you apply for financial aid more easily.

The FAFSA Simplification Act, passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, brought significant changes to the financial aid application process using the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

What You Need to Know Now

  • The 2025-26 FAFSA is now available at studentaid.gov.
  • Students and parents will need an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA. Get one now if you don’t already have one.
  • NC State’s priority FAFSA filing date is March 1, 2025. Submit the FAFSA by that date to ensure you receive the maximum financial aid offer for which you are eligible.
  • 2025-26 FAFSA Issues. There are known issues with the 2025-26 FAFSA form. You can find an updated list of issues here.
  • 2025-26 FAFSA Corrections. You are now able to submit a correction to your 2025-26 FAFSA. You can find information about correcting or updating your FAFSA here.

How Can I Prepare?

  • Be sure you and your parent(s) have an FSA ID.
  • Have your 2023 federal tax documents easily accessible.
  • Tips for the 2025-26 FAFSA.
  • Federal Student Aid has released the FAFSA Estimator, an online estimator tool to help estimate the results of the 2025-26 FAFSA.
  • Estimate your NC State financial aid offer using the Net Price Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contributor is a new term used as part of the FAFSA process for 2025-26.

  • A contributor is anyone who is required to provide information as part of a student’s FAFSA submission.
  • A contributor can be a student’s biological parents(s), step-parent, adopted parent(s) or student’s spouse.
  • The term “contributor” means the individual contributes information to the student’s FAFSA.
  • It does NOT mean the individual will contribute to the student’s educational expenses.

The answers provided in the FAFSA will determine if contributors are required to provide information in the FAFSA.

  • For students who are dependents of parents, a contributor can be biological parent(s) or adopted parent(s).
  • If parent(s) are divorced, the contributor is the parent and step-parent if applicable who provides the majority of the student’s financial support.
  • If the student is married, the spouse is a contributor if the 2023 federal income taxes were not filed jointly.

The term “contributor” means that an individual is contributing information on the FAFSA. It does not mean that a contributor will contribute to the student’s educational expenses.

  • If your FAFSA requires information from contributors and they will not provide information in the FAFSA, the result is an incomplete FAFSA and the student is not eligible for federal student aid.

Students and contributors who are reporting tax information as part of their FAFSA submission must provide consent for Federal Student Aid Programs to retrieve their federal tax information from the Internal Revenue Service. Failure to provide consent will result in the student being ineligible for federal student aid.

We expect newly admitted students to receive their aid offer in early April. Continuing NC State students will receive their aid offer in late May.

You can find information about correcting or updating your FAFSA here.

You can find helpful information here.

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