JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2024-25 FAFSA Completion

(Last Updated: November 12, 2024)

Important Dates

The important dates are listed in chronological order by month, with the newest information listed first. As new information about the 2024-25 application processing cycle becomes available, it is added to the appropriate month in this section. Browse this page periodically to find out what's new.

COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel

November 2024

Guidance for State Grant Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education on the Access, Disclosure, and Use of FAFSA Data for the Application, Award, and Administration of Student Aid Program

October 2024

Active Confirmation of TG/FT Numbers (SAIG Mailboxes) and Electronic Services User Accounts Required by Dec. 10, 2024 to Maintain Access to Federal Student Aid Systems

Keeping You Informed – Updates to the 2024-25 FAFSA Simplification Information Area on Knowledge Center (Updated Oct. 18, 2024)

Updates on 2024-25 FAFSA Paper Processing (Updated on Oct. 18, 2024)

Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference - Registration Now Open

August 2024

2024-25 FAFSA Verification - Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Return Transcript Matrix

2024-25 Pell Grant Origination Issue and COD System Reject Edit 38

Availability of FAFSA Partner Portal Training Resource

FSA Posting School Participation Information

2024 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference - Program Information Now Available

Additional Update on the Availability of the DHS/SAVE Secondary Confirmation Process and Third-Step Verification Requests

Updated Course Offerings-Newly Redesigned Learning Tracks and FSA Basic Training for New Staff for 2024-25 Award Year

Training Workshops – 2024-25 FSA Fundamentals Training Series

2024-25 FSA Handbook – Volume 2: School Eligibility and Operations Now Available

July 2024

Updates on 2024-25 FAFSA Paper Processing

Update on Identity Validation Flexibilities for Individuals without Social Security Numbers and Key Remaining Scope for the 2024-25 FAFSA Cycle

Update on Batch Corrections for Institutions via the Electronic Data Exchange, Flexibilities, and Additional Support for the 2024-25 FAFSA Cycle

2024-25 Federal School Code List of Participating Schools (August 2024)

2024-25 FSA Handbook – Volume 8, Volume 9, and Errata to AVG Now Available

Reminder – Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations

OUTAGE ALERT: G6 System Outage July 26-29, 2024 – Impact to Federal Student Aid Processing and on Funds Availability for Title IV Programs

Updated Password Requirements for AIMS Users

June 2024

SAIG Message Class File Update (June 24, 2024)

Live Internet Webinar – 2024-25 FAFSA: Demo of FAFSA Partner Portal Corrections (on June 28, 2024)

2024-25 FSA Handbook – Volume 6: The Campus-Based Programs Now Available

Details Related to the 2025-26 FAFSA Form Launch, Opportunities for Engagement, and Additional Activities for the 2024-25 Cycle

Resolving Conflicting Information

Additional COD System Implementation for 2024-25 Award Year (June 2024)

SAIG Message Class File Update (June 7, 2024)

Update on Department Reprocessing of 2024-25 FAFSA Records

Live Internet Webinars – Wednesday Webinar Series, Summer-Fall 2024

Title IV Institutional Survey – Web Survey to Begin June 5, 2024

May 2024

FSA Partner Connect – Automatic Assignment of Alternate E&O Roles for School Users to Occur June 3, 2024

New DHS-SAVE Tutorial Required To Initiate Third-Step Verification Requests

2024-25 Processing Timeframes Associated with Reporting V4/V5 Outcomes and Unusual Circumstances and Homeless Youth Determinations, and Update on ISIR Values for Ward of Court and Foster Youth Status

Summary of Department Reprocessing of 2024-25 FAFSA Records

Issue Alert: Verify Correct EDconnect Mailbox Settings Prior to Exporting Data for COD System Processing from EDExpress

2024-2025 COD Technical Reference (May 2024 Update) Now Available

2024-25 FSA Handbook – Volume 5: Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds and Errata to Volumes 1 and 4 Now Available

Availability of EDExpress for Windows, 2024-25, Release 2.0

2024-25 FAFSA: Update on Processing Paper FAFSA Forms, Implementing School-Initiated Corrections, and Temporary Changes to Process for Reporting Disbursements to Provide Institutional Flexibility

Update on the Availability of the DHS/SAVE Secondary Confirmation Process for Confirming Eligible Noncitizen Status

April 2024

Live Internet Webinar – 2024-25 FAFSA: Update on FAFSA Processing and Filing for Applicants Without SSNs (on May 3, 2024)

Update on Access to the 2024-25 FAFSA Form for Individuals Without a Social Security Number

2024-25 FAFSA Update: Reprocessing of IRS FA-DDX Data Known Issues

Reprocessing of FPS Known Issues and Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Implementation

2024-25 FSA Handbook – Volume 3: Academic Calendars, Cost of Attendance, and Packaging and an Errata to the Application and Verification Guide Now Available

2024-25 FAFSA ISSUE ALERT: Replicated ISIRs Delivered to FTI-SAIG Mailboxes on April 16, 2024 (Updated April 17, 2024)

COD System Implementation for 2024-25 Award Year

Student Corrections Availability, FPS Reprocessing, and Promoting FAFSA Completion with #FAFSAFastBreak

COD System Calculation of the Federal Pell Grant Scheduled Award Based on FAFSA Simplification Act Changes

Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona Letter to Presidents, Chancellors, and CEOs on 2024-25 FAFSA Processing Updates (April 2024)

Final Testing Phase of 2024-25 FAFSA Form Corrections; Broad Availability Next Week

Guidance on Aid Awards Using ISIRs Affected by Errors

2024-25 FAFSA Data Update: Detailed List of FAFSA Records to Schools and State Agencies with Reprocessing Indicators 

Use of Negative Student Aid Index (SAI) in Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Selection Criteria

Updates on Timelines for Corrections and Reprocessing and What it Means for Partners

OUTAGE ALERT – StudentAid.gov Maintenance on April 11, 2024

Live Internet Webinar – 2024-25 FAFSA: Weekly Guidance and Processing Status Roundup (on April 12, 2024)

Updates to the FAFSA Completion Initiative and Means-Tested Benefits Outreach

Reprocessing ISIRs with Known Data Issues and Resolution of Access Issues for Students who have Required Contributors without Social Security Numbers (Updated April 4, 2024)

SAIG Message Class File Update

2024-25 FSA Handbook: Volume 4 (Processing Aid and Managing FSA Funds) and Volume 1 (Student Eligibility Errata) Now Available

2024-25 FAFSA Tax Data Follow-up: Releasing List of Unaffected FAFSA Records to Schools (Updated April 3, 2024)

2024-2025 COD Technical Reference (April 2024 Update) Now Available

Live Internet Webinar – Title IV Recertification (Sessions in May, July 2024)

Live Internet Webinars – 2024-25 FAFSA: Tax Data Discrepancy and School Support and Answers to Most Common Technical Questions (on April 3, 2024 and April 5, 2024)

Update on Tax Data Received from the FA-DDX and Manually Entered Information

Beta Test Volunteers Needed for EDExpress 2024-25, Release 2.0

March 2024

Potential Issue Alert – Reports Concerning Tax Data and 2024-25 FAFSA Form (Updated April 1, 2024)

Live Internet Webinar – 2024-25 ISIR Highlights (on March 29, 2024)

Update on 2024-25 FAFSA Processing

Keeping You Informed – Updates to the 2024-25 FAFSA Simplification Information Area on Knowledge Center

2024 Federal Student Aid Training Conference – To Be Held Virtually Dec. 3-6, 2024

Update on 2024-25 FAFSA Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) Delivery

Live Internet Webinar – Navigating and Finding Resources on FAFSA Simplification

Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona Letter to Presidents, Chancellors, and CEOs on 2024-25 FAFSA Processing Updates

Live Internet Webinar – EDExpress 2024-25 Modernization Part 2 (on March 28, 2024)

PACT Act Impacts to Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants (IASG) Eligibility and Processing for 2023-24 Award Year; Updated Pell Grant Eligibility for Dependents of Certain Deceased Servicemembers and Public Safety Officers for 2024-25

Additional Resources for 2024-25 ISIR Delivery and Processing 

Live Internet Webinar – 2024-25 ISIRs: Transmission Support and Delivery Ramp Up

Additional Details of 2024-25 ISIR Delivery, Updates for Non-SSN Contributors, and Launch of the FAFSA Partner Portal

Update on Technical Fix to the 2024-25 FAFSA Form for Individuals Without a Social Security Number (SSN)

Details of 2024-25 FAFSA Initial Institutional Student Information Records (ISIR) Delivery and Update on Support for Institutions and Vendors

Availability of EDExpress for Windows 2024-25, Release 1.0

SAIG Message Class File Update

February 2024

2024-2025 COD Technical Reference (Initial) Now Available

2024-25 FSA Handbook: Volume 1 (Student Eligibility) and Volume 7 (The Federal Pell Grant Program) Now Available

SAIG Software Upgrade for FTI Data Transmission – Availability of EDconnect 8.6.1, Updated Documentation, and Password Guidance

Additional 2024-25 FAFSA Partner Preparation Support

Additional 2024-25 Test ISIR Data File and Other Tools Available

2024-25 Award Year Flexibilities and Department Letters to Presidents

Additional Information on FAFSA College Support Strategy

U.S. Department of Education Announces FAFSA College Support Strategy to Deploy Federal Personnel, Funding, and Resources to Support Colleges, Students, and Families with Better FAFSA Form

2024-25 Federal School Code List of Participating Schools (February 2024)

Revised Special Handling Process for FAFSA Filers Under the Age of 13

2024-25 FSA Handbook: Errata – Application and Verification Guide

January 2024

2024-2025 Federal Pell Grant Maximum and Minimum Award Amounts

2024-25 FAFSA Student Aid Index Update and Timeline

Federal Student Aid Handbook – 2024-25 Application and Verification Guide and 2023-2024 FSA Assessments

Final 2024-25 FAFSA Form, FAFSA Form for Incarcerated Students, and FAFSA Submission Summary

Live Internet Webinars – Better FAFSA Better Future Webinar Series, January–February 2024

December 2023

COD School Testing for the 2024-25 Award Year

StudentAid.gov Account Creation for Individuals without a Social Security Number Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA Processing Cycle

FSA Partner Connect – E-App and TPS Functionality Implemented; Reminders and Initial Next Steps for Users

EDExpress for Windows 2024-2025 Packaging Technical Reference

Puerto Rico and other U.S. Territories Dual Tax Filers Reporting Income and Tax Information on the 2024-25 FAFSA

FSA Partner Connect – New Features in FSA Partner Connect Implemented Dec. 17, 2023

2024-25 FAFSA Soft Launch Details and Timelines

Draft 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (December 2023 Update #2) Now Available

Live Internet Webinars – Wednesday Webinar Series, Winter–Spring 2024

Access Removed for Unconfirmed TG Numbers (SAIG Mailboxes) and Electronic Services User Accounts

FSA Enforcement Bulletin, December 2023 – Institutions Must Maintain Appropriate Compliance Management Systems and Policies

Alert: Educational Institutions at Risk Due to Improper Authorization Vulnerability in Confluence Data Center and Server

Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (December 2023 Update #1) Now Available

2023 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference – On-Demand Access Available Until March 2024

SAIG Message Class File Update

SAIG Software Upgrade for FTI Data Transmission – Important Information for EDconnect 8.6.0 Users

Live Internet Webinars – FSA Partner Connect Training

November 2023

Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (November 2023 Update) Now Available

2023 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference – Virtual Event Platform Now Open

Reminder: Updated SAIG Enrollment Agreement and SAIG Software Required to Receive 2024-25 ISIRs

FSA Partner Connect – Important User Access and User Role Information for New E-App Implementation Coming December 2023

Update on the Simplified, Streamlined, Redesigned 2024-25 FAFSA

Reminder: Active Confirmation of TG Numbers (SAIG Mailboxes) and Electronic Services User Accounts Required by Dec. 7, 2023 to Maintain Access to Federal Student Aid Systems

SAIG Software Upgrade for FTI Data Transmission – Upgrade to EDconnect 8.6.0 and Updated TDClient Software

Regulations Governing the Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, Institutional Eligibility, and Arbitration

October 2023

2024-2025 College Financing Plan

Federal Student Aid Resources for Financial Aid Administrators, School Counselors, College Access Professionals, and Mentors

Alert: Research Institutions Targeted by Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Vulnerability

2024–25 Federal School Code List of Participating Schools (November 2023)

FSA Partner Connect – Implementation Planned for December 2023; E-App and Other Actions Required by Nov. 24, 2023

Active Confirmation of TG Numbers (SAIG Mailboxes) and Electronic Services User Accounts Required by Dec. 7, 2023 to Maintain Access to Federal Student Aid Systems

Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (October 2023 Update) Now Available

September 2023

2023 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference – Registration Now Open

Announcing the 2024-25 FAFSA Prototype

SAIG Software Upgrade for FTI Data Transmission – Additional Information for SAIG Software Users

2024-25 Test ISIR Data File Available

Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (September 2023 Update #2) Now Available

Updated SAIG Enrollment Agreement Available Oct. 23, 2023 – Required Steps to Receive 2024-25 ISIRs

Release of Revised Federal Student Aid Estimator

COD Common Record XML Schema Version 5.0b Now Available

2024–2025 Award Year: FAFSA Information to be Verified and Acceptable Documentation

Notice of the Updated Draft 2024–25 Federal Student Aid Application Materials

Beta Test Volunteers Needed for EDExpress 2024-2025, Release 1.0

Live Internet Webinar – EDExpress 2024-25 Modernization Part 1

August 2023

Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (September 2023 Update) Now Available

2023 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference – Request for Policy Questions

EDExpress 2024-25 Modernization and Upcoming Training and Beta Test Opportunities

2023 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference – Program Information Now Available

Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (August 2023 Update) Now Available

Key Terms, Definitions, and Systems Related to FAFSA Simplification and FUTURE Acts

FAFSA Simplification Act Changes for Implementation in 2024-25

Live Internet Webinars – Wednesday Webinar Series, Fall 2023

July 2023

2024–25 FAFSA Form Preview Presentation

REMINDER – G5 to G6 Website Transition and Login.gov Option Coming Aug. 7, 2023

Additional Fact Sheet for Prison Education Programs

Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (July 2023 Update) Now Available

FSA Enforcement Bulletin, July 2023 – Nondisclosure Agreements that Prohibit or Limit Employee Communication with the U.S. Department of Education Violate Title IV Regulations

FSA Partner Connect – Implementation Planned for September 2023

Opportunity to Comment on NIST SP 800-171, Rev. 3

June 2023

ALERT: Critical Vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer Software

Sunset of COVID-19 Waivers and Flexibilities

Title IV Institutional Survey – Web Survey to Begin June 7, 2023

May 2023

Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (May 2023 Update) Now Available

SAIG Software Upgrade for FTI Data Transmission – Preliminary Information for SAIG Software Users

Accreditation and Eligibility Requirements for Distance Education

Update to Third-Party Servicer Guidance in GEN-23-03

Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI) for Federal Student Aid Programs Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA Processing Cycle

FBI/CISA RELEASE JOINT ADVISORY on Active Exploitation of a PaperCut Vulnerability Against Educational Facilities

StudentAid.gov Enhancements and Modifications Starting April 2023

April 2023

Publication of the 2024-25 Draft FAFSA® Specifications Guide (Updated April 28, 2023)

2023 Federal Student Aid Training Conference – New Location for FSA Training Conference Information

OUTAGE ALERT – IRS DRT Outages April and May 2023

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations – Update

FSA Letter to Presidents, Chancellors, and CEOs on Changes to Federal Student Aid and 2024-25 FAFSA Process

Live Internet Webinars – Better FAFSA Better Future Webinar Series, June-July 2023

March 2023

Eligibility of Confined or Incarcerated Individuals to Receive Pell Grants

Notice of the Draft 2024-25 Federal Student Aid Application Materials

Implementing the 2024–25 FAFSA Process

Eligible Noncitizen Update – Afghan Arrivals

FSA Enforcement Bulletin, March 2023 – Announcing Use of Secret Shoppers to Evaluate Recruitment and Enrollment Practices and Monitor Title IV Compliance

Availability of 2023 Title IV Audit Guide for Proprietary Schools and Third-Party Servicers

FSA Partner Connect – FSA Partner Connect Website Updates Coming March 2023

February 2023

Requirements and Responsibilities for Third-Party Servicers and Institutions (Updated Feb. 28, 2023)

2022 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference – On-Demand Access Available Until March 2023 (Updated Feb. 17, 2023)

New Cybersecurity Resources for Institutes of Higher Education Available

Requirements and Responsibilities for Third-Party Servicers and Institutions (Updated Feb. 16, 2023)

Updates to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Cybersecurity Requirements

Federal Pell Grant Program Reconciliation

2023 Federal Student Aid Training Conference – Virtual Gathering Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 2023 

January 2023

N/A

December 2022

Publication of the 2024-25 Draft FAFSA® Specifications Guide

Live Internet Webinars – Wednesday Webinar Series, Winter-Spring 2023

2022 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference – On-Demand Access Available Until March 2023

Federal Student Aid FY 2023-27 Strategic Plan

November 2022

2022 Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference – Virtual Event Platform Now Open

2024-25 Draft Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide