It’s still launching…
The 2024-2025 Better FAFSA® is still soft launching! 
Students and families who are able to complete the FAFSA® are pleasantly surprised to find that the FAFSA application takes them less time than previous years. Many have reported that it’s taken them less than 10 minutes from start to finish! The speed can likely be attributed to the dramatic reduction in questions and the improved process of transferring federal tax information from the IRS to the FAFSA. Parents of multiple students are also loving that they only have to log in once to contribute to all of their students’ FAFSAs®.
Unfortunately, some students and families have encountered technical issues that have yet to be resolved. Students born in the year 2000 are getting stuck in a question loop that won’t let them complete the FAFSA. Parents who don’t have a Social Security Number are currently not able to contribute to or electronically sign their students’ FAFSA. These and other issues are causing frustration and worry for many families.
Federal Student Aid (FSA) is busy working through technical issues and answering questions from the financial aid community and the public at large. Professional associations, like NASFAA (National Association of Financial Aid Administrators), are working to help the financial aid community navigate the new FAFSA and related legislation. Higher Education software vendors are also busy updating their software as information becomes available from Federal Student Aid.
The Office of Student Financial Aid has also been very busy helping our students, applicants and their families navigate the new FAFSA. Our office is hosting FAFSA Frenzy events on campus and volunteering with College Goal Wisconsin where we help students and families. While these events are focused on the FAFSA, we often help with the FSA ID, which is required by all FAFSA contributors, and other questions related to financial aid. These events are a great way for staff from our office to connect with our students and communities across the great state of Wisconsin.
OSFA’s FAFSA Simplification Task Force meets weekly to ensure that our office is up to date and meeting benchmarks. The Task Force has created an internal FAQ and sent multiple communications to our Community Partners so they can stay informed.
Our Communications Manager, Karla Weber Wandel, has been keeping our website current with the latest news and creating opportunities for us to connect with our students and the public. She and her student team have also been busy creating fun and informative content for our Instagram page. Here’s our Katy Weisenburger giving the latest update!
Our Director, Helen Faith and Assistant Director of Advising & Outreach, Joselyn Diaz-Valdes have been featured on news programs highlighting the work that our office is doing and answering questions about the FAFSA. Check out this one from Spectrum News Milwaukee.
During the soft launch of the FAFSA, remind students and families that there is plenty of time to apply and reassure them that the Office of Student Financial Aid is ready to help with their FAFSA and financial aid.
Students and families who are able to complete the FAFSA® are pleasantly surprised to find that the FAFSA application takes them less time than previous years. Many have reported that it’s taken them less than 10 minutes from start to finish! The speed can likely be attributed to the dramatic reduction in questions and the improved process of transferring federal tax information from the IRS to the FAFSA. Parents of multiple students are also loving that they only have to log in once to contribute to all of their students’ FAFSAs®.
Unfortunately, some students and families have encountered technical issues that have yet to be resolved. Students born in the year 2000 are getting stuck in a question loop that won’t let them complete the FAFSA. Parents who don’t have a Social Security Number are currently not able to contribute to or electronically sign their students’ FAFSA. These and other issues are causing frustration and worry for many families.
Federal Student Aid (FSA) is busy working through technical issues and answering questions from the financial aid community and the public at large. Professional associations, like NASFAA (National Association of Financial Aid Administrators), are working to help the financial aid community navigate the new FAFSA and related legislation. Higher Education software vendors are also busy updating their software as information becomes available from Federal Student Aid.
The Office of Student Financial Aid has also been very busy helping our students, applicants and their families navigate the new FAFSA. Our office is hosting FAFSA Frenzy events on campus and volunteering with College Goal Wisconsin where we help students and families. While these events are focused on the FAFSA, we often help with the FSA ID, which is required by all FAFSA contributors, and other questions related to financial aid. These events are a great way for staff from our office to connect with our students and communities across the great state of Wisconsin.
OSFA’s FAFSA Simplification Task Force meets weekly to ensure that our office is up to date and meeting benchmarks. The Task Force has created an internal FAQ and sent multiple communications to our Community Partners so they can stay informed.
Our Communications Manager, Karla Weber Wandel, has been keeping our website current with the latest news and creating opportunities for us to connect with our students and the public. She and her student team have also been busy creating fun and informative content for our Instagram page. Here’s our Katy Weisenburger giving the latest update!
Our Director, Helen Faith and Assistant Director of Advising & Outreach, Joselyn Diaz-Valdes have been featured on news programs highlighting the work that our office is doing and answering questions about the FAFSA. Check out this one from Spectrum News Milwaukee.
During the soft launch of the FAFSA, remind students and families that there is plenty of time to apply and reassure them that the Office of Student Financial Aid is ready to help with their FAFSA and financial aid.