The FAFSA and CADAA have changed!
Simplifying the financial aid application process: the FAFSA Simplification Act is an initiative by the United States Department of Education to make applying for federal student aid easier for students.
This process is the first major redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process in over 40 years. It represents a significant overhaul of federal student aid, including the FAFSA form, need analysis, storage of federal student aid application data, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in the Title IV programs.
The process for the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) will mirror some of the changes from the new FAFSA. All students must complete either the FAFSA or CADAA to be considered for financial aid.
The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships is dedicated to keeping students, families, supporters and our campus community updated. We will continue to update this webpage as we receive more information from the Department of Education and California Student Aid Commission.
To apply for financial aid, visit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Tips for Preparing To Fill Out the FAFSA® Form...
When will the 2025-2026 FAFSA/CADAA become available?
The 2025-2026 FAFSA and CADAA are available as of December 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
“FAFSA® Simplification Act: On Dec. 27, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The law includes provisions that amend the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act and includes the FAFSA Simplification Act—a sweeping redesign of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. Specifically, the law makes it easier for students and families to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and expands access to federal student aid.”
- The number of questions on the FAFSA has decreased from over 100 to less than 50.
- The EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) is now the Student Aid Index (SAI).
- Students can list up to 20 schools on their FAFSA via the online application.
- Applicants will be asked to report their sex, race, and ethnicity on the FAFSA itself, but students will be offered a choice of “Prefer Not to Answer”. Schools and states won’t see responses to these questions on the FAFSA.
- The Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) has been renamed the Federal Taxpayer Information (FTI)
- Students, spouses, parents, and stepparents will now need to provide their consent in the new Consent to Retrieve and Disclose Federal Tax Information section of the FAFSA for federal student aid eligibility.
- This consent will allow the IRS to share FTI.
- If any party to the FAFSA form does not provide consent, submission of the form will still be allowed. However, a Student Aid Index (SAI) will not be calculated.
The FAFSA/CADAA process is going to look a bit different than it did in the past and just like the name says, FAFSA Simplification, we expect the process to be easier for students and parents to complete.