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The 2025-26 FAFSA is now open!

The federal government will not provide FAFSA information to schools until Mid-March. You will receive an email from UVU once we receive your application. You can expect your financial aid offer by early June. We will provide additional updates here as more information becomes available.

UVU’s school code is 004027

For more information, visit https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support

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Helpful FAFSA videos

 

2025-26 FAFSA changes

There have been some major changes to the FAFSA form that are designed to give you a more user-friendly experience. 

Fewer Questions

The total number of questions has been reduced from 108 to 46. The application is also dynamic, so you may not be presented with all 46 questions. This is meant to make the application easier for you and your family to complete. 

EFC to SAI

The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Previously, the EFC was used to calculate the estimated amount a family could afford to contribute to a student's education. It was commonly misunderstood that the EFC was the amount of money required for the family to contribute to a student's education before the student could receive federal financial aid. The change to the SAI more accurately describes it as an index number used to determine federal aid eligibility, based on the information reported on your FAFSA.

Pell Grant Eligibility

Good news: Federal Pell Grant eligibility has expanded to more students.

Although your SAI may contribute to the formula to determine your Pell Grant eligibility, it’s not the only determining factor. Other information, like family size and federal poverty guidelines, will also be used to determine whether you qualify for a Pell Grant.

Even if you don’t qualify for the maximum Pell Grant award, you may still be eligible for a Pell Grant based on other information you provide on your FAFSA form.

Contributors to the FAFSA

“Contributor” is a new term that began with the 2024–25 FAFSA form. It refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent’s spouse) who’s asked to provide their information, consent, and approval to have their federal tax information transferred automatically from the IRS into the FAFSA form, and signature on your FAFSA form.

Wondering how you’ll know if you need to add contributors to your FAFSA form? Don’t worry—the online FAFSA form will tell you who needs to be a contributor based on your answers to certain questions.

You’ll also answer questions about your personal circumstances to determine whether you’re a dependent or independent student. If you’re considered a dependent student, your parent will be identified as a contributor. And if your parent is married (and not separated) but didn’t file taxes jointly, their spouse will also be a contributor. To determine which parent is a contributor when you fill out your FAFSA, take a look at this:

  Parent Contributor infographic 

Provisionally Independent Status

If you report on the FAFSA that you are unaccompanied and homeless, self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, or unable to provide parent information on the FAFSA, you will receive a provisionally independent status and an SAI. You will need to provide supporting documentation of your circumstance to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. 

If your documentation is not sufficient to show that you’re independent, you will be considered dependent and will need to submit your parent information on the FAFSA.

Parents without Social Security Numbers (SSN)

In the past, parents without an SSN could not create an FSA ID and instead had to sign and mail in a paper FAFSA. Now, contributors who do not have an SSN can create a StudentAid.gov account to sign and submit their information on your FAFSA electronically.

 

Additional Information

FAFSA Updates and Important Deadlines for the 2025-2026 Academic Year

Starting with the 2025-2026 FAFSA, all tax filers will automatically have their tax information transferred directly from the IRS through the Direct Data Exchange (DDX) system. This replaces the previous option to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). The new process is designed to make completing your FAFSA easier and smoother by eliminating the need to manually request or upload tax information.

However, in certain cases, you may need to manually enter your tax information if it cannot be transferred through DDX.

FAFSA and Scholarship Deadline

To be considered for scholarships requiring a FAFSA, UVU must receive your completed 2025-2026 FAFSA and all outstanding requirements by March 1, 2025. We encourage you to submit your FAFSA as early as possible to allow time for additional steps, such as completing outstanding requirements or applying for scholarships.

Situations That May Impact Your Financial Aid Eligibility

You may be prevented from receiving federal financial aid if you:

  • Are in default on a loan under any Title IV, HEA loan program.
  • Have exceeded the annual or aggregate loan limits for any Title IV, HEA program.
  • Have property subject to a judgment lien for a debt owed to the U.S. government.
  • Are liable for an overpayment of a federal grant or Perkins Loan.
  • Have listed a defaulted Federal Student Aid loan or grant overpayment in an active bankruptcy claim.
  • Have received outside financial assistance that exceeds your financial need or Cost of Attendance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to complete the FAFSA?

To complete the FAFSA, you will need:

  • A verified account & password at studentaid.gov
  • To provide previous years taxes 

    • 2022 taxes for the 2024-2025 aid year
    • 2023 taxes for the 2025-2026 aid year

When does the FAFSA need to be submitted?

The federal deadline for the FAFSA is June 30th every year. However, the sooner you complete the FAFSA, the sooner you may be eligible to receive financial aid. It is highly recommended that you complete the FAFSA as early as you can.

What are your office hours?

Our office is open Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

How do I know if additional documents are needed from me?

The U.S. Department of Education may select your FAFSA for verification to confirm the accuracy of your financial information. If selected, you must complete this process to receive federal aid. Failure to do so will result in the loss of eligibility for federal assistance.

To check your verification tasks, log in to the Student Forms portal. Create an account if you haven’t already, and view the required tasks to complete your financial aid file. Complete all required verification documents by filling out web forms in the Student Forms portal and uploading other necessary documents using the Upload button under each task. The verification web form can be signed electronically using your myUVU password.

If you were selected for verification after being awarded, your financial aid may be updated within two weeks of submitting all documents. You will be notified via email if there are any changes to your award.

Do I have to complete the FAFSA every year?

Yes, you must complete the FAFSA for every academic year, in order to be eligible for federal aid. 

I submitted my FAFSA, now what?

After you submit the FAFSA, you may need to provide additional documentation to help us confirm your financial eligibility. Any tasks you may need to complete can be found in your myUVU portal.

 
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