The New FAFSA: What Maryland Families Need to Prepare For
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) continues to evolve, and recent changes mean families need to prepare differently than in years past. Understanding what to expect can help students avoid delays and maximize financial aid opportunities.
What’s Changed
The updated FAFSA is designed to be shorter and more streamlined, but it now pulls financial data directly from the IRS. This means accuracy is more important than ever, and families may have fewer opportunities to make corrections later.
What Families Should Gather Ahead of Time
Before starting the FAFSA, students and contributors should have:
- Social Security numbers (if applicable)
- Federal tax returns from the required tax year
- Records of untaxed income
- A Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID for both students and contributors
Why Timing Matters
While the FAFSA opens annually, submitting early can improve access to certain grants, scholarships, and institutional aid, including opportunities administered through organizations like Central Scholarship.
How Central Scholarship Can Help
FAFSA completion is often required for need-based scholarships. Central Scholarship encourages Maryland families to complete the FAFSA as early as possible to ensure eligibility for financial support.
Because FAFSA requirements change from year to year, this information should be reviewed annually to stay up to date.
