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Office of Financial Aid & Office of Admissions

FAFSA 2024-25: What Should You Know?

Timeline Updates
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Jana Parks

Director of Financial Aid

Constant Hall
785.594.4595
jana.parks@bakerU.edu
         

 

Baker University understands the importance of the financial aid package.

We know you are anxious to receive your financial aid package so you can make your college decision. We are staying on top of the Department of Education’s delay in releasing FAFSA data and will keep you informed as we learn more about this nationwide issue.

Grape Arbor

Why do universities need FAFSA data to create a financial aid package?

FAFSA information is needed to determine a student’s eligibility for need-based aid, which includes grants, scholarships, and loans.

Why has the Department of Education delayed releasing FAFSA data this year?

The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) underwent significant and ambitious changes with the goal of increasing aid eligibility.

  • These changes are predicted to help 1.5 million more students receive maximum Pell Grant eligibility.
  • Specifically for Kansas, it is predicted that 14,018 more students will qualify for the maximum Pell Grant, and an additional 6,222 students will be eligible to receive Pell Grant funds.
  • On January 30, the Department of Education announced the calculation tables used to determine the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) needed to be updated to reflect inflation adjustments required under the law. These adjustments are also set to benefit students and families with approximately $1.8 billion in additional aid.

The downside is that these adjustments have delayed FAFSA information being delivered to families and schools.

Parmenter Hall

What is the Department of Education’s current timeline?

Update: April 15

Here is the latest timeline from the U.S. Department of Education:

  • Normal FAFSA processing should start this week, and the Department of Education expects to send information to schools within three business days.
  • Reprocessing of incorrect submissions will also begin this week.
  • Starting this week students should be able to make corrections to their forms.

Baker’s Office of Financial Aid has made adjustments in its workflow so that staff may work to finalize aid packages as quickly as possible when the FAFSA data and reprocessed submissions begin coming in.

Update: March 1

  • If you submitted the online FAFSA form, you may view and print your FAFSA Submission Summary by logging in to studentaid.gov using your account username and password. The summary will be available after the FAFSA information is sent to schools during the first half of March. You will be able to make corrections at that time.
  • The Department of Education will send an email reminder to previous FAFSA applicants who have not yet submitted a 2024-25 FAFSA form.

February 8 Timeline

The Department of Education has indicated they will begin transmitting FAFSA information to schools the first half of March.

  • Once the FAFSA information has been processed, students will receive an email informing them that their FAFSA has been processed and the information has been sent to the schools listed on their form.
  • Once Baker University begins receiving FAFSA information, we will work as quickly as possible to review and process all FAFSA data.
Two students studying with a laptop.

What is Baker doing?

  • Extended the talent-based scholarship application deadline: So that you and your family have time to gather all your financial aid information before making your college choice, we have extended our talent-based scholarship application deadline to May 1. (This was moved from March 1.) This ensures that scholarship funds will be available during the peak decision timeframe.
  • Extended date for deposit refund: Because it may be difficult to make your college decision before receiving your aid package, we have extended the date for requesting a refund of your enrollment deposit to June 1.
  • Preparing for expedited FAFSA processing: Our Office of Financial Aid is committed to reviewing and processing FAFSA information as quickly as possible so we can begin sending financial aid offers starting April 1.
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What can you do?

While you are waiting, here are steps you can take now to be in the best position possible when aid packages are put together.

  1. If you have not already done so, complete the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Make sure to add our school code, 001903, so we will receive your results as soon as they are released.
  2. Finalize materials if you are pursuing a talent-based scholarship. These materials should be submitted by May 1; however, the sooner you can complete this information, the more complete your financial aid offer will be.
  3. Pursue scholarship opportunities:
    • Baker University offers the Bishop Quayle Matching Scholarship for a student receiving a contribution from a church congregation of up to $300 per semester and a maximum award of $600 per academic year. Download an application.
    • If you are a Kansas resident, view the Kansas Board of Regents website for a list of scholarships. Many of the scholarships have priority deadlines, so be mindful of completing the application on time.
    • Contact your high school counselor about scholarship opportunities within your local region.
    • Contact organizations you are a member of to seek scholarship opportunities.
    • Review Baker’s Outside Scholarship Newsletter, which lists local, regional, and national scholarships and their deadlines and how to apply.
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Baker University is affordable and within your reach, and we want to provide you with all the opportunities available to you, which requires the FAFSA results.

If you have questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 785.594.4595 or jana.parks@bakerU.edu. We will be happy to answer your questions.