Students sitting on the third floor of the Student Center studying and having conversations.

Financial Aid

Montclair State University does not use or require the College Board CSS Profile.

Financial aid includes scholarships, grants, loans and work-study from federal, state and institutional sources. Applying for financial aid reduces the out-of-pocket cost of a college education to help make it an affordable reality.

Breaking News: The U.S. Department of Education announced a timeline update for the 2024-25 FAFSA. Due to the required updates being made, all FAFSAs that have been submitted are in a holding period. Unfortunately, this means the government will not be releasing FAFSA data to any higher education institutions until mid-March at the earliest. And, the financial aid offices do not have any access to see a student’s FAFSA yet.

The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available. Updated on Tuesday, January 10, 2024.

Be Aware: You may encounter a waiting room and/or periods of time when the FAFSA is not available. These are designed to give the Department of Ed opportunities to update and maintain the website. If this is what you encounter, return to the website later. Please be patient.

Montclair State University’s priority filing date for the 2024-25 FAFSA is Monday, April 1, 2024; we recommend that you file your FAFSA now.

New Jersey HESAA is offering FAFSA Completion webinars. Join a Webinar Today! 

How Is the 2024-2025 FAFSA Changing?

Some of the changes to the FAFSA include:

  • A streamlined form with less questions you have to answer and how long it takes you to complete the application.
  • The use of consent for the US Department of Education to import your (or your spouse’s or parents’) tax information instead of you having to manual import it.
  • The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is being replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI) for a clearer explanation of your financial aid eligibility.
Do I Need a New FSA ID for the 2024-2025 FAFSA?

If you already have an FSA ID, you will use that one. If you have any difficulty remembering or accessing that ID, please see the studentaid.gov website to retrieve your ID or reset your password.

If you do not have an FSA ID, you will create one first. You will have to wait three days to receive your valid FSA ID.

Who Is Considered the Parent on the 2024-2025 FAFSA?

The ‘parent’ that should be included on the FAFSA is the parent(s) who provided the majority of the student’s support over the 12 months prior to filing the FAFSA, even if the student does not live with that parent. There is a ‘Parent Wizard’ to help you determine which parent(s) are included on the FAFSA.

Does My Parent Need a FSA ID?

Yes, if your parent(s)/step-parent does not already have an FSA ID, they need to obtain their own FSA ID at studentaid.gov. It can take three days for the request to be processed.

My Parent(s) Does Not Have a Social Security number. How Do They Get an FSA ID?

Your parent can begin the process at studentaid.gov to create an account. They will indicate they do not have a Social Security number and follow the prompts to register.

Please review this documentation.

I Have Filed My FAFSA, What Happens Now?

Check the status of your form starting in late January by logging into your studentaid.gov account and selecting your FAFSA submission in the My Activity section of the dashboard. Once ready, your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) including preliminary aid eligibility information will be emailed to you in late mid March (this is an approximate timeline).

What If I Cannot Provide My Parent(s) Information?

Complete the FAFSA with your information and indicate that you have unusual circumstances (there is a check off box). Once the Financial Aid Office begins to receive and process FAFSA results (mid-March), you will be contacted to submit documents to continue the FAFSA process.

What If I Have To Make A Correction?

Once you receive your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) via email, you should be able to make corrections by returning to your 2024-25 FAFSA (mid March). Learn more about how the corrections process will work on the studentaid.gov website.

What If I Have Problems Submitting The FAFSA?

Please contact the FSA Help Desk at the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243.

Their hours of operation are:

  • Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Eastern time (ET)
  • Saturday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Closed on all federal holidays.

OR Email at https://fsapartners.ed.gov/help-center/contact-customer-support

Can a Parent Fill Out Both the Student Section and the Parent Section of the FAFSA?

The 2024-25 FAFSA is now role-based and requires a student and/or parent complete their own sections using their own unique FSA IDs. The student should complete their section, then invite their parent as a contributor.

How Does the Student Aid Index (SAI) Compare to the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a replacement for Expected Family Contribution (EFC). It is used to determine the amount of need-based financial aid a student is eligible to receive. The SAI is a rebranding of EFC in an effort to more accurately reflect what the figure represents – the amount of financial aid a student is eligible to receive. In the past, EFC created confusion and led students to believe it was a calculation of what they were expected to pay.

What Does This Mean to Me?

Not only has the FAFSA changed, but the formula determining eligibility is changing. In many cases, students will be eligible for more grant aid.

In addition, filing the FAFSA should be quicker and easier for students and families.

Still have questions? Come see us in person at Red Hawk Central, email redhawkcentral@montclair.edu or call 973-655-7600.