Applying to college raises many questions, including how to pay for it.
Financial aid is one part of the answer.
At the University of Redlands, we are committed to making a personalized education affordable and achievable. About 90% of Bulldogs receive financial assistance through merit and talent-based scholarships in addition to generous financial aid packages.
Whether you choose Redlands or another institution, the first step to determining a student’s need is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
Though the traditional FAFSA form becomes available October 1 each year, this year a new FAFSA form will launch in December 2023 for the 2024-25 academic year.
Changes to FAFSA 2024-25
Over the last three years, the Department of Education has been working to implement changes to the FAFSA form that were initiated by the 2020 FAFSA Simplification Act. This act triggered a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used; major changes to the form for the 2024-25 award year include:
- Expanded eligibility for federal student aid
- Adjustments to the form’s underlying aid formula
- A streamlined application process
This new form won’t be available until December, giving students and families less time to complete the form. However, this shortened timeline is offset by the ease of new features to the form. Previously 108 questions, the new form is 36 questions. Additionally, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is being replaced by an IRS Direct Data Exchange, allowing users’ federal tax information to be retrieved and transferred directly into the FAFSA form. These features are hopeful in expediting the process to submit the form and expand eligibility for federal student aid.
How to Prepare
How can you prepare for filling out the 2024-25 FAFSA? Login to or create your StudentAid.gov account and submit your email address and phone number to stay informed on when the 2024-25 application will be available. Additionally, the Department of Education is offering a series of free webinars to help students and their families learn how to prepare for the new form, a sneak peek at the prototype preview, and more. Register for these webinars here. Those who register but cannot attend at the scheduled time will receive a recorded version.
Redlands Promise
We know you’ve worked hard to make a college career possible and we’re working hard to make a personalized education affordable and achievable. That’s the Redlands Promise.
If you have additional questions about financial aid at Redlands, reach out to our dedicated Student Financial Services team, here. At U of R, you'll access affordable, academic excellence in a community where you belong.
To learn more about Student Financial Services, click this link.
