✅ Continued FAFSA Simplification

• The streamlined FAFSA form remains in place, reducing the number of questions and improving user experience.

• Most students will answer fewer than 40 questions (down from over 100 in older versions).

🔄 Student Aid Index (SAI) Replaces EFC

• The Student Aid Index (SAI) continues to be used instead of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

• A lower SAI still indicates a higher level of financial need.

📊 Tax Data Automatically Transferred via Direct Data Exchange (DDX)

• Students and parents must consent to have their tax data transferred directly from the IRS using the FSA’s DDX system.

• Manual entry of tax data is no longer allowed. If consent is not given, the FAFSA cannot be processed.

🧍‍♂️ Contributors Defined More Clearly

• Any person required to provide information (student, parent, spouse) is considered a Contributor.

• Each Contributor must create an FSA ID and provide consent for data exchange.

• If any required Contributor does not participate, the FAFSA remains incomplete.

💰 Pell Grant Eligibility Expanded

• Pell Grant eligibility continues to be tied more closely to family size, income, and the federal poverty level.

• Students from low-income families may automatically qualify for the maximum Pell Grant.

• Pell eligibility also considers parental marital status more accurately, especially in cases of separated or divorced parents.

👪 Parent on FAFSA Clarified for Divorced/Separated Families

• The parent who provides the most financial support (not necessarily who the student lives with more) is now used on the FAFSA.

• This helps clarify situations with joint custody or financial splits.

🧮 Number in College No Longer A Factor

• The number of family members in college no longer affects the Student Aid Index (SAI).

• This has reduced aid eligibility for some families with multiple college students.

Summary of What's New or Different for 2025–2026:

An individual may contact the Bureau for Private Post-secondary Education for review of a complaint.  The Bureau may be contacted at 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 95833, http://www.bppe.ca.gov, Telephone (916) 431-6924 Fax (916) 263-1897.

Students may request a computer budget increase to expand their financial aid budget if they need to purchase a new computer for the current academic year. Please review the following guidelines before submitting your request:

📅 Deadline for Requests

• Requests must be submitted within the first 30 days of each semester to be considered.

• If submitting after the 30-day window, additional documentation is required (see below).

📝 Required Documentation (Initial Requests)

To be eligible for a budget increase, students must provide:

1. An itemized statement listing the planned computer equipment to be purchased, and/or

2. A receipt that includes:

   • Purchase date

   • Itemized list of equipment

   • Specifications of the computer

Students must first submit all documentation to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for approval. Once approved, the request can be forwarded to the Financial Aid Office.

⏳ Requests After 30 Days

If the request is made after the 30-day period, the following must also be submitted:

• A written statement from the student's instructor confirming that a new computer is necessary for the student to successfully complete the semester.

📩 Final Submission

In all cases, students must submit a copy of the actual purchase receipt to the Financial Aid Office once the computer has been purchased.

🎓 Federal Pell Grant 2025–2026

🧮 Eligibility Highlights (2025–2026)

• Automatic maximum Pell Grant for students from households at or below 175%–225% of the federal poverty level, depending on family size and structure.

• Based on 2023 income information (from the FAFSA).

• Pell is calculated using the new Student Aid Index (SAI) – not the old EFC.

📌 Important Reminders

• Students must submit a 2025–2026 FAFSA to be considered.

• Pell eligibility is automatically determined — no separate application needed.

• Can be used for tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.