FAFSA Simplification
Last Updated Tuesday January 21, 2025
In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act which includes the FAFSA Simplification Act—a comprehensive redesign of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. Specifically, the law makes it easier for students and families to complete and submit the FAFSA and expands access to federal student aid.
The FAFSA process looks a bit different than it was in the past. Don’t worry, Elmhurst University is here to help you. The Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) will update this page as additional information is made available so that we can continue to educate students, families and our campus community on the new processes.
Is the 2025-26 FAFSA Available?
- The 2025-26 FAFSA became available in November 2024.
- A recent bill was passed (FAFSA Deadline Act) that will require the Department of Education to release the FAFSA no later than October 1 each year moving forward.
When Will You Receive My FAFSA?
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Elmhurst University is receiving 2025-26 FAFSA information on a regular basis. Once submitted, your FAFSA (with the Elmhurst school code) is typically received within 3-5 business days. Applications are being processed as they are received.
- 2024-25 FAFSAs are currently being processed and Student Financial Services is working through all files that we have received.
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If your FAFSA is currently impacted by a technical issue, please contact Student Financial Services for more information.
When Will I See My Financial Aid Award Offer?
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Most students that have completed a 2025-26 FAFSA will have their financial aid awarded within a few days after we receive your FAFSA.
- Some students may need to provide additional information or documentation to finalize their FAFSA and financial aid awards. Students will be notified of what is required to complete the process by email and in Self-Service in the student portal.
- Once awarded, students will be notified via email that they can view their financial aid in Self-Service. Ensure that you have access to the Student Portal using your eNumber.
What Happens After I Submit My Application?
- Students will receive an email informing them that their FAFSA form has been fully processed and that their FAFSA information has been sent to the schools they listed on their form.
- Students who applied using the online FAFSA form will receive an email that they can access their FAFSA Submission Summary by logging in to StudentAid.gov using their account username and password.
Where Can I Get More Information?
We recommend monitoring StudentAid.gov for the latest guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. For any technical issues with the FAFSA application, please contact Federal Student Aid at (800) 433-3243, or by Live Chat. For any other questions, please contact our office, either by phone at (630) 617-3015, or by email at [email protected].
You can also schedule an appointment with the Office of Student Financial Services by using our appointment scheduler.
FAQ’s
We recommend completing your application as soon as possible once it is available each year. Suggested priority deadlines for 2025-26 are January 1 for Illinois residents and February 1 for others.
Yes, all current and incoming students have the option to make an appointment with the Office of Student Financial Services to complete your FAFSA application. Families are welcome to join! Appointments can be made using our appointment scheduler.
If your tax data does not accurately reflect your current household income due to changes such as (but not limited to) a loss of a job or a divorce, you may be eligible to complete a Special Circumstance Appeal. We will need to wait until FAFSA data is received to begin the appeal process. You can find more information on this appeal here.
Once Elmhurst University beings receiving FAFSA information from the Department of Education each year, it continues on a regular basis. Once submitted, your FAFSA (with the Elmhurst school code) should be received within 3-5 business days. This process is delayed at the start of every application cycle. Student Financial Services will notify students once FAFSA applications are being received each year.
Once you receive an email confirming your FAFSA application has been processed, you can return to http://www.studentaid.gov to make corrections or add schools to your FAFSA application.
If you are an Illinois student who is not eligible for federal financial aid (and do not file the FAFSA), you may apply for a State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant using the online Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, which is patterned after the FAFSA. The Alternative Application is available on the ISAC student portal.
Contributors who do not have a Social Security Number can create an FSA ID. All contributors without an SSN, including those with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), will need to manually enter their financial information. While creating an account, contributors will need to answer a few knowledge-based questions to verify identity. If you experience any issues, please contact Student Financial Services.