FAFSA now available!
The 2024-2025 FAFSA is now available. Fill it out as soon as you can to receive as much aid as possible.A guide to the new FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will experience some big changes this year as part of a government change called the FAFSA Simplification Act. Below is a guide that will help you understand the changes. In addition, you can always contact Washburn's Financial Aid Office by calling 785.670.1151 or emailing financialaid@washburn.edu.
Washburn also will host drop-in FAFSA Completion Sessions from 4 to 6 p.m. on the following dates. There will be a scholarship drawing for students attending the event who come to Washburn:
Mabee Library Room 206B
- May 15
- May 29
How the FAFSA Simplification Act affects you
Last updated: May 2, 2024
The FAFSA Simplification Act was passed by Congress in 2020 and is the largest change to the financial aid process that we’ve seen in over 40 years. This includes changes to the FAFSA form, how financial aid eligibility is determined, changes in terminology, and updates to many policies and procedures that Washburn University must follow.
When will the 2024-2025 FAFSA be available?
The FAFSA is now open but still experiencing some issues during this "soft launch" period. The Department of Education is working to correct these issues in the coming weeks. Known issues and workarounds, if available, can be found on this website.
Washburn began receiving FAFSA information at the end of March and notified those that the University has received a FAFSA form of the next steps. Our financial aid team is here to keep you informed and help you through the process.
To fill out a FAFSA, visit studentaid.gov. If you have already submitted your 2024-25 FAFSA and realized that you left information off or need to make changes, the correction process is now open. Details of how to make corrections can be found at the Student Aid site.
When should I submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA?
Students who plan to attend Washburn University in the fall of 2024 or spring 2025 should complete the FAFSA prior to the May 1 priority deadline (If you have not submitted the FAFSA by this date and still need help, please contact our Financial Aid office) to ensure the student receives as much financial aid as possible. The Department of Education is still working on known issues with the FAFSA website. Federal Student Aid will not begin to send FAFSA results to schools until mid-March.
What’s changing with the FAFSA?
There are a number of proposed benefits to the FAFSA Simplification Act, including an easier application process and better user experience, expanded access to Pell Grants and other need-based aid, and reduced barriers for certain student populations, such as homeless and unaccompanied youth, incarcerated students, English language learners, and students from low-income backgrounds.
Changes include, but are not limited to:
When required to report assets, students and families must now report the net worth value of their small business or family farm. To determine the net worth, first identify the current value of all land, buildings, equipment, etc. owned as part of the small business or family farm. Next subtract the amount of any current debts owed against these same items.
If the family's primary residence is in the small business or on the family’s farm, the current value of the residence and current debt against the residence should both be excluded when determining net worth.
A new term being introduced on the 2024-2025 FAFSA is a "contributor," or anyone required to provide information on a student’s form. This can include parents, stepparents, or spouses. A student's or parent's answers on the FAFSA will determine which contributors (if any) will be required to provide information. After receiving an email confirming that person's role as a contributor, they will need to log in using their own FSA ID to provide the required information on the student’s FAFSA.
Being a contributor doesn't mean you are financially responsible for the student’s education costs, but it does mean that the contributor must provide information on the FAFSA. If they don't, the application will be considered incomplete, and the student will not be eligible for federal financial aid.
For dependent students, financial information was previously needed from the parent(s) the student had lived with the most in the last 12 months. Under the new rules, financial information will be required from the parent(s) who provided the most financial support to the student in the last 12 months prior to completing the FAFSA.
For more information about which parent(s) information is required on the FAFSA, use the "Is my parent a contributor" chart.
Additional information available from Federal Student Aid
What other financial assistance is available at Washburn?
Financial incentives
Financial incentives can help make a Washburn education an incredibly affordable choice for students, whether they are from:
Shawnee County
Northeast Kansas
Southwest Kansas
U.S. states outside of Kansas
Scholarships
You may be eligible for a variety of university, departmental and academic scholarships. First-time freshmen and transfer students alike are awarded GPA-based merit scholarships automatically, with awards totaling up to $20,000 for first-time freshmen and $12,000 for transfer students.
ScholarshipUniverse
Our new scholarship-matching tool, ScholarshipUniverse, is an excellent resource for easily matching up with the best external scholarship opportunities.
File Your FAFSA
GET IN TOUCH WITH Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone & Email
Ph: 785-670-1151
Fax: 785-670-1079
financialaid@washburn.edu