FAFSA Simplification

The 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available at StudentAid.gov. The delayed launch of the FAFSA is changing Pima Community College’s processing time frame and this is what we are working on to prepare for the new aid year. 

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will be able to answer questions about your aid eligibility or status beginning in early April 2024. Processing times vary by school, however, please allow for possible delays as new information becomes available from the U.S. Department of Education and software providers. Once processing begins, you can check your MyPima account and PCC student email account for  updates.

What you can expect

1. FAFSA Receipt Begins

   Late-March

   Pima Community College began receiving FAFSAs in late-March from the U.S. Department of Education. We are holding the FAFSAs until processing begins in May, which means that the financial aid requirements won't show in MyPima until we start processing.

2. FAFSA Processing Begins

   May

   FAFSA processing is estimated to begin, and emailed letters will go out to to the applicants confirming receipt of their FAFSA. Financial aid requirements begin to post in the MyPima/Financial Aid and Scholarships section.

3. Award Processing Begins

   May

   Financial aid awards and scholarships scheduled to begin posting on student records that have completed all the requirement and meet the aid and scholarship eligibility criteria.

4. Aid Disbursements Begin

   August

   Financial aid and scholarship funds begin to disburse to the student account according to class start date. Visit the Disbursements and Refunds webpage for aid specific dates.

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What Changed

• 2024-2025 FAFSA eligibility information will be sent to schools in late March. PCC will be able to answer questions about an applicant’s aid eligibility or status after the information is received.
• Federal Student Aid Estimator Tool to help students find out how much federal student aid they may be eligible for 2024-2025. Access the Federal Student Aid Estimator here. 
• Students' spouses, parents and stepparents who do not have an SSN can obtain an FSA ID to participate as a contributor on the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Click here to access a guide on How to Get an FSAID for Individuals Without a Social Security Number. The Spanish version of the flier is available here.
• The student aid index (SAI) replaces the expected family contribution (EFC).
• Family size will be determined by the student/parent tax return. There will be an opportunity to update the size if it has changed.
• The use of IRS tax data streamlines the process for calculating the SAI and Pell Grant eligibility by using the direct data exchange in place of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).
• Pell Grant eligibility will be determined using the family size and federal poverty level.
• A dependent student whose parents are divorced or separated will report the income for the parent who provides the most financial support regardless of whom the student lives with.
• Incarcerated students will regain Pell Grant eligibility.
• Pell Grant eligibility will be restored to students affected by school closures while enrolled or who were misled.
• Changes to the cost of attendance (COA) components and language.

How the changes impact our service to you

• A student information system upgrade that is being implemented throughout the 2023 and beginning of the 2024 calendar years.
• A processing start date in the second quarter of the 2024 calendar year.
• A proactive approach for assisting students with special or unusual circumstances.
• The calculation of aid using the SAI. 

Changes Between Aid Years
2024-2025	2023-2024
Student Aid Index (SAI)	Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Lowest SAI: -$1,500	Lowest EFC: $0
Cost of Attendance (COA)-SAI=Financial Need	Cost of Attendance (COA)-EFC=Financial Need
Contributor	Student/Spouse/Parent(s)
Direct Data Exchange (DDX)	IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)
FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)	Student Aid Report (SAR)

Student Aid Index (SAI): An eligibility index number used by the financial aid office to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attended the school.

Contributor: Anyone who is required to provide information on the FAFSA form, sign the FAFSA form, and provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into the form. Contributors include you, your spouse (if you’re married); your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent’s spouse (if you are under 24 years of age and are considered a dependent student). 

Direct Data Exchange (DDX):  Direct Data Exchange between the IRS and the Department of Educations’ Federal Student Aid enabling information to come in directly from the IRS which simplifies the financial data entry process for contributors.

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS): An electronic or paper document that summarizes the information you reported on your FAFSA. It includes your estimated eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant and federal student loans, your Student Aid Index (SAI), and whether you’ve been selected for verification.

Resources

What is the FAFSA Simplification Act?

How to Get an FSAID for Individuals Without a Social Security Number (guide)

Como obtener un FSAID para personas sin un Numero de Seguro Social (SSN)