*Update: On April 22, 2024, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) announced that they have extended their FAFSA renewal deadline again. The new deadline for students who had TAG and/or the Stockton Promise in 2023-2024 to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA is June 1, 2024.*
Greetings all current and future Ospreys!
We’re here to answer a big question many of you are probably asking.. what in the world is going on with financial aid???
The 2024-2025 financial aid application cycle has been one like no other. As a result of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Simplification Act of 2020, the 2024-2025 FAFSA underwent a major overhaul of not only the look and feel of the application, but also to the methodology used to determine student aid eligibility. In short, the application has changed.. a lot!
With these changes, have come significant delays in not only the launch of the application, which is usually open on Oct. 1 and was delayed until Dec. 30, but also to the processing of applications and the dissemination of student FAFSA data to all schools throughout the nation. Previously, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it would begin sending 24-25 FAFSA data to schools in late-January. This was then delayed to mid-March. To date, select institutions have received a hand-full of student’s 24-25 FAFSA data. According to ED, this process will ramp up in the next several weeks/months.
After we begin receiving student’s 24-25 FAFSA data, we will work as quickly as possible to provide all students with accurate aid offers and financial aid requirements. Without any further delays, we anticipate sending aid offers to students beginning in May.
Please understand that if you have already filed your 2024-2025 FAFSA and it is in an “In Review” or “Processed” status via your studentaid.gov account, you have completed all requirements up to this point. All students should continue to monitor their emails for updates. You will receive emails letting you know when the university has received your 2024-2025 FAFSA, when your 2024-2025 Financial Aid Offer is ready to view and when/if you have any outstanding requirements to complete. Once you receive your financial aid offer, please note that the aid offered to you is contingent upon the completion of all requirements.
Please also note that the State of New Jersey’s Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) has also experienced delays in receiving FAFSA data from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). As a result of these delays, it is possible that students could receive aid offers that do not include state aid. Once state aid eligibility is determined, eligible students will receive a revised financial aid offer including all aid for which they are eligible.
The most important thing to note.. is that we’re here for you! Please feel free to contact the office at 609.652.4203 or visit stockton.edu/contactfinaid to email or schedule a phone appointment with a member of our staff.
If you haven’t already, be sure to complete your 2024-2025 FAFSA at fafsa.gov! Anyone who received the State Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) and/or the Stockton Promise in the 2023-2024 academic year must complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA by June 1, 2024 to be considered for any type of state aid and the Stockton Promise for the 2024-2025 academic year.
NJ Dreamers are not eligible for federal aid, but could be considered for state aid. If you identify as an NJ Dreamer, be sure to complete the 2024-2025 NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application at hesaa.org. Those who received the NJ Alt. Tuition Aid Grant (Alt. TAG) and/or the Stockton Promise in the 2023-2024 academic year must complete their 2024-2025 NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application by June 1, 2024 to be considered for any type of state aid and the Stockton Promise for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Need assistance with your financial aid application? Throughout March and April, our office is hosting application completion sessions. Visit stockton.edu/contactfinaid to sign up for a one-on-one session!
Don’t worry, Ospreys! We’re in this together! For the most up to date information, please be sure to monitor your goStockton and personal email accounts as well as our stockton.edu/fafsa webpage and our @stocktonfinaid social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).