Is FAFSA getting rid of the sibling discount?

The decision to eliminate the Sibling Discount comes amid FAFA changes and revisions by the Department of Education for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Did they remove the sibling discount from FAFSA?

One of the formula adjustments has received a significant amount of attention as of late: the loss of the "sibling discount." Previously, students with a sibling attending college received a break in the federal financial aid formula, which resulted in an increase in the students' eligibility for aid.

Does FAFSA have a sibling discount for 2024?

No benefit for having siblings in college: Previously, the FAFSA divided the EFC proportionally based on the number of household members in college. The elimination of this "sibling discount" will be the biggest change in aid eligibility for some students.

Is the EFC going away from FAFSA?

After the FAFSA simplification: The EFC is being replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI). And similar to the EFC, the lower the SAI, the more aid you'll be eligible for.

Is FAFSA changing for 2024?

More Financial Aid is Now Available for Single Parents

The 2024-2025 FAFSA includes even more aid for single parents, including expanded eligibility for the maximum Pell Grant funds and a larger increase in Income Protection Allowance (IPA).

Sibling Discount for College Going Away in 2024-2025 FAFSA | Morning in America

What changes are coming to the 2024-2025 FAFSA?

Beginning 2024-2025, new change removes the half-time enrollment requirement. The parent responsible for submitting the FAFSA in cases of divorce or separation has changed. For dependent students, financial information was previously needed from the parent(s) the student had lived with the most in the last 12 months.

Does FAFSA consider siblings in college?

The amount of federal aid a student is eligible to receive will no longer increase if that student has one or more siblings attending college at the same time.

What is replacing EFC?

One such change is replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI), which will be implemented for the 2024–25 award year.

What is the EFC for 100k income?

The basic theory is that the lower your EFC, the bigger your financial aid award. A family with an adjusted income of $50,000 and two dependents would expect to have an EFC of around $3,800 without considering any other financial assets. A family with income of $100,000, would have an EFC of approximately $20,000.

How can I lower my EFC legally?

Reduce family income

If possible, defer any workplace bonuses or avoid exercising stock options. If you have an investment that's losing money, consider selling it. The capital loss will factor into your adjusted gross income and could lower your EFC.

Why is sibling discount going away?

Per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, parents and students will use the new FAFSA form beginning in October 2023. The decision to eliminate the Sibling Discount comes amid FAFA changes and revisions by the Department of Education for the 2024-2025 academic year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc.

Is FAFSA split between siblings?

"Under the new Fafsa system, a family's ability to pay isn't divided per child, meaning that each student might be on the hook for more tuition, depending on the family's income."

Do parents and students fill out separate FAFSA 2024 25?

Your contributors will each need their own StudentAid.gov account too. “Contributor” is a new term on the 2024–25 FAFSA form—it refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent's spouse) required to provide information on your FAFSA form.

Is college cheaper if your sibling goes there?

In general, the aid that colleges that offer sibling discounts varies from about $500 a year to fifty percent of the tuition.

How does FAFSA work with siblings?

The current FAFSA calculates an expected family contribution, or EFC, which determines students' eligibility for federal financial aid. If a household has multiple family members in college at the same time – indicated by a question on the FAFSA – that number would be divided between each of those enrolled.

How do siblings affect FAFSA?

When a younger sibling enters college, the EFC for the eldest sibling is roughly cut in half to account for the additional family costs incurred. Both siblings will have approximately the same EFC since they both use the same parents' tax information, while their individual incomes and savings create slight variations.

Will I get financial aid if my parents make 200k?

The good news is that the Department of Education doesn't have an official income cutoff to qualify for federal financial aid. So, even if you think your parents' income is too high, it's still worth applying (plus, it's free to apply).

Can I get financial aid if my parents make over 150k?

There is no set income limit for eligibility to qualify for financial aid through. You'll need to fill out the FAFSA every year to see what you qualify for at your college. It's important to make sure you fill out the FAFSA as quickly as possible once it opens for the following school year.

What happens if my parents won't pay my EFC?

If your parents or guardians refuse to pay for college, your best options may be to file the FAFSA as an independent. Independent filers are not required to include information about their parents' income or assets. As a result, your EFC will be very low and you will probably get a generous financial aid offer.

Why is EFC so high on FAFSA?

EFC is based on the parents' and student's income and assets. A high EFC is likely the result of high income or a high value of assets as reported on the FAFSA. Assets considered include bank account balances, capital gains and, sometimes, equity held in businesses and real estate.

What is the income limit for FAFSA 2024?

What Are the FAFSA Income Limits for 2024? Both students and their parents often think their household income makes them ineligible for financial aid. However, there's no income limit for the FAFSA, and the U.S. Department of Education does not have an income cap for federal financial aid.

How will FAFSA change for divorced parents 2024 2025?

For students whose parents are divorced or separated, the Custodial Parent on your FAFSA will be the parent who provides you with the most financial support and will no longer be the parent with whom you lived with the most over the past 12 months.

Why does my sibling get more financial aid than me?

You attended different colleges, which have a different financial aid packaging philosophy. You attended different colleges, one of which gaps students with a different amount of unmet need. Your brother has a different amount of assets than you. Your brother has a different amount of income than you.

Do twins get more financial aid?

For example, the student income and assets may differ, and the student names and Social Security numbers will certainly differ. Twins, triplets and other multiples tend to qualify for more student financial aid than singletons because more children are enrolled in college at the same time.

What is happening to FAFSA?

Beginning with the 2024–25 FAFSA^® form, each of your contributors (if you have any) will be able to create a StudentAid.gov account even if they don't have an SSN. As a student, you'll be required to enter your SSN (unless you're a citizen of the Freely Associated States) to create your StudentAid.gov account.