2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (June 2024 Update) (2024)

Posted Date

May 31, 2023

Subject

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide (June 2024 Update)

Note

Update on June 26, 2024: On June 26, 2024, we updated volumes 1, 4, and 9. The changes made are noted below and specified in the Change History Table within each volume. The Introduction and volumes 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 remain unchanged.

Update on May 22, 2024: On May 22, 2024, we updated volumes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 as well as the 2024-25 ISIR Record Layout in Microsoft Excel format. The changes made are noted below and specified in the Change History Table within each volume. The Introduction and volumes 1, 2, 8, and 9 remain unchanged.

Update on April 11, 2024: On April 11, 2024, we updated Volume 7 – Comment Codes. The changes made are noted below and in Volume 7’s Change History Table on page iv. The Introduction and volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 remain unchanged.

Update on April 3, 2024: On April 3, 2024, we updated Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes and the 2024–25 Final ISIR Record Layout in Excel Format. The changes made to the ISIR Record Layout since its last posting are noted below and in Volume 4’s Change History Table on page viii. We have also updated Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects; changes are summarized below and in Volume 5’s Change History Table on page iii. The Introduction and volumes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 remain unchanged.

We updated Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes as follows:

Updated valid content in the ISIR Record Layout for the following fields: 645, 657, 669, 690, 691, 704, 705, 718, 719, 727, 750, 773, 796, 819, and 842.
Updated table 4.4, State Codes to show that “FC” is valid for state codes for the High School State ISIR field 71.
Updated EDE #092, High School Name, to revise the field length from 50 bytes to 60 bytes.

We updated Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects as follows:

Added note titled “Notes About Edits and FTI Data” which explains that only self-reported manual entry data should be used in edits.
Updated parameter value edits for the following fields:

Age (Page 3) Parent Spouse or Partner is Contributor (Page 5)

AGI Threshold Exceeded Flag – Dependent (Page 7)

AGI Threshold Exceeded Flag – Independent (Page 7)

Student Manual Entry Not Required (Page 9)

Student Spouse Manual Entry Not Required (Page 11)

Parent Manual Entry Not Required (Page 13)

Parent Spouse or Partner Manual Entry Not Required (Page 15)

Parent/Dependent Student Required to Provide Assets (Page 17)

Added the following parameter value edits:

FTIM Indicator “No Additional Consents Appear to be Needed” (Page 6)

FTIM Indicator of “Display IRA Rollover Question” (Page 7)

FTIM indicator “Display Pension Rollover Question” (Page 7)

Student Manual Entry Not Required (Page 10)

Student Spouse Manual Entry Not Required (Page 12)

Parent Manual Entry Not Required (Page 14)

Parent Spouse or Partner Manual Entry Not Required (Page 16)

Updated the following model determination data edits: 1003, 1004, 1005, 1117, 1147, 1193, and 1195.

Added edit number 1123.
Updated dependent parent data element edits 2010, 2011, 2025, and 2026.

See Also
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Updated dependent parent spouse or partner data element edits 2500, 2501, 2502, 2503, 2504, 2513, 2516, 2517, 2518, 2519, 2520, 2522, 2523, 2524, and 2525.
Updated independent student data element edits 3005 and 3010.
Updated independent student spouse data element edits 3500, 3501, 3502, 3503, 3504, 3507, 3513, 3515, 3516, 3517, 3518, 3519, 3520, 3521, 3522, 3523, and 3524.
Updated verifiable reject reason code D to correct the comment code associated with the reject.
Updated non-verifiable rejects to correct the comment codes associated with rejects 6, 9, 31, and 34.
Updated non-verifiable rejects to revise the resolution for reject codes 11, 12, 26, 27, 31, 37, 38, 39, 42, 46 and 47.
Updated non-verifiable rejects to revise the data reject reason for reject codes 32 and 33.

Update on March 8, 2024: On March 8, 2024, we replaced the March 1 version of the system-generated ISIR file titled 2024–25 FPS Test ISIR Data System Created File with a new March 8 version of that file under Attachments for Volume 9 – Testing and Web Demo System. The Introduction and volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 remain unchanged.

Here are the updates made to the previous 2024–25 FPS Test ISIR Data System Created File:

Header and Trailer padded with space to increase record length
Verification Tracking group is populated when selected for verification
Student Assets are populated on dependent records
Parent/Spouse Federal Work-Study correctly set to 0
Independent records where Student did not file with current spouse now correctly using both the student and student spouse’s self-reported data in the SAI calculation

Note: The test ISIR data is not sent to Student Aid Information Gateway (SAIG) mailboxes.

Update on March 5, 2024: With this March 2024 Update #2, we have updated Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes and the 2024–25 Final ISIR Record Layout in Excel Format. The changes made to the ISIR Record Layout since its last posting are listed below and noted in the volume’s Change History Table on page viii. The Introduction and volumes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 remain unchanged.

Update on March 1, 2024: On March 1, 2024, we updated this publication by adding a new system-generated ISIR file titled 2024–25 FPS Test ISIR Data System Created File and replacing the Additional 2024–25 Test ISIR Data File under Attachments for Volume 9 – Testing and Web Demo System. The Introduction and volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 remain unchanged.

Update on Feb. 16, 2024: We updated this publication by replacing the attachment under Volume 9 titled “Additional 2024-25 Test ISIR Data File” with an updated version. Within the attachment, we updated field 297, position 2812, to "N" for 8 published test ISIRs, per specification requirement.

As announced, the additional test ISIRs are located in a public Department of Education GitHub repository. While we are sharing these files here, we strongly encourage use of GitHub as any updates to test files are likely to first appear there.

The FAFSA Simplification Act, enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, represents a significant overhaul of federal student aid, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in the Title IV programs. The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced a phased implementation approach to the FAFSA Simplification Act, with full implementation by July 1, 2024.

To give financial aid administrators, software vendors, and other vested stakeholders time to understand and prepare for these upcoming changes, we are pleased to provide the draft 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide. Beginning with the 2024–25 processing cycle, we will consolidate all FAFSA-related processing information and guidance into this new, multi-volume resource. The new resource will replace the following stand-alone documents:

Summary of Changes for the Application Processing System
EDE Technical Reference
Application Processing System Specifications for Software Developers
The ISIR Guide
SAR Comment Codes and Text
CPS Test System User Guide

With this June 2024 Update, we have updated:

Volume 1 – Summary of Changes to include multiple updates and clarifications about functionality on the 2024–25 FAFSA Partner Portal website. Review the Change History Table on page iv for complete details.
Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes to include minor revisions to the Correction Record Layout to change the Student Middle Name (field #7) and Student Suffix (field #9) fields to filler. Review the Change History Table on page vi for complete details.
Volume 9 – Testing and Web Demo System update clarifies existing guidance indicating that Web Demo functionality will not be available for the 2024–25 cycle. Review the Change History Table on page iii for complete details.

The Introduction and volumes 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, remain unchanged.

Final Introduction

This section provides an overview of the information provided in the guide, including a cross-reference table to assist users with the transition from the previous stand-alone documents to the volumes of the new consolidated guide. There is also a schedule of the planned releases for all volumes of the guide.

Final Volume 1 – Summary of Changes Updated

This volume provides an overview of major processing system changes related to the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) processing cycle. Included are descriptions of 2024–25 enhancements to the online and PDF FAFSA^® forms, and updates to the FAFSA Partner Portal (formerly FAA Access to CPS Online) and the FAFSA Processing System (FPS), formerly known as the Central Processing System (CPS). Information in this section is similar to information provided in the Summary of Changes to the Application Processing System guide in prior cycles.

Final Volume 2 – FPS Schedule and Getting Help

This volume contains important FAFSA Processing System (FPS) processing deadlines and anticipated document and software release dates, as well as information for getting help such as contact information for customer service, FPS mailing addresses, and lists of helpful publications and websites you can access for additional assistance.

Final Volume 3 – Electronic Data Exchange and FAFSA Processing

This volume provides guidance to schools and other entities who want to develop mainframe systems or third-party software to exchange data electronically with Federal Student Aid. It includes an overview of the EDE process and our software products (EDExpress, EDconnect, and TDClient). Also included are descriptions of the FAFSA Processing System input data, electronic output data files (such as including the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), a review of the types of ISIR files available from the ISIR Datamart, and information for making electronic corrections to a student’s FAFSA data.

Final Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes Updated

This volume provides record layouts for schools and organizations that need to design or use software systems to interface with FSA's new FAFSA Processing System (FPS). This version includes revisions to the ISIR record layout, including added, deleted, or renamed fields, valid field content updates, and field length, number, and position changes for multiple fields. It also includes revisions to the Correction Data Entry Specifications. For a detailed list of revisions, see the Change History Table near the beginning of the volume. The ISIR record layout is also provided in Excel format.

Final Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects

This volume contains the data edits and reject/error information found previously in theApplication Processing System Specifications for Software Developers, EDE Technical Reference, andISIR Guide. This includes descriptions of data edits for various FAFSA contributors (dependent or independent student, parent, other parent, student’s spouse), as well as record-level, processing, verifiable, and non-verifiable reject codes, and resolution guidance.

Final Volume 6 – ISIR Guide

The information in this volume comes from the formerISIR Guide. This volume assists financial aid administrators (FAAs) with interpreting student information on theInstitutional Student Information Record(ISIR). ISIRs contain processed student information reported on the FAFSA form, as well as key processing results and National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS^®) financial aid history information. This volume also describes the FAFSA Submission Summary, which is replacing theStudent Aid Report(SAR) in 2024–25.

Final Volume 7 – Comment Codes

This volume describes the comment codes provided by the FPS on the 2024–25 electronic and paper FAFSA Submission Summary and the ISIR, as well as any action required by the student or school. The information in this section comes from the former SAR Comment Codes and Text guide.

Final Volume 8 – Agency Matches

This volume provides guidance regarding processed comment codes, status codes, and reject codes from matching agencies such the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and NSLDS^®. The information in this section comes from the former SAR Comment Codes and Text guide.

Final Volume 9 – Testing and Web Demo System Updated

This volume describes ISIR test data and Web Demo System options for 2024–25. The information in this section comes from the former CPS Test System User Guide.

REMINDER: EARLY DRAFTS WILL CHANGE

We began publishing early draft volumes of the 2024–25FAFSA Specifications Guidein December 2022 and updated the early drafts as we could through October 2023. In late November 2023, we began to publish final versions of the volumes.

Look for the word—“Draft” or “Final”—at the beginning of each volume description above for that volume’s status.

Note: The 2024-25 ISIR record layout published on May 22, 2024 is the final version. On June 26, 2024, we posted updates to Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes that include changes to the Correction Record Layout.

We appreciate users’ understanding as we continue to publish final volumes of the guide and continuously monitor for updates.

The 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide will be updated with information and changes as they become available. A “Change History Table” is included in each volume of the guide and will outline all changes made to a volume over time. Refer to the “Planned Releases” schedule in the Introduction for forthcoming publication timeframes.

Attachments

The Department of Education strives to make all content accessible to everyone. While these documents do not currently meet the standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Federal Student Aid is working to create accessible versions. If you need access to these documents before the accessible versions are available, please contact the Information Technology Accessibility Program Help Desk at ITAPSupport@ed.gov to help facilitate.

Introduction

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Introduction in PDF Format, 8 Pages, 332KB

Volume 1 – Summary of Changes

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 1 – Summary of Changes, 31 Pages, 505KB

Volume 2 – FPS Schedule and Getting Help

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 2 – FPS Schedule and Getting Help in PDF Format, 16 Pages, 758KB

Volume 3 – Electronic Data Exchange and FAFSA Processing

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 3 – Electronic Data Exchange and FAFSA Processing in PDF Format, 30 Pages, 1MB

Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes in PDF Format, 205 Pages, 2.6MB

2024–25 Final ISIR Record Layout in Excel Format, 100KB

Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects in PDF Format, 51 Pages, 755KB

Volume 6 – ISIR Guide

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 6 – ISIR Guide in PDF Format, 46 Pages, 1MB

Volume 7 – Comment Codes

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 7 – Comment Codes in PDF Format, 135 Pages, 1MB

Volume 8 – Agency Matches

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 8 – Agency Matches in PDF Format, 19 Pages, 382KB

Volume 9 – Testing and Web Demo System

2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 9 – Testing and Web Demo System in PDF Format, 8 Pages, 411KB

2024–25 FPS Test ISIR Data File, 5KB

2024–25 FPS Test ISIR Data System Created File, 38KB

As announced in a Feb. 16, 2024 Electronic Announcement, we have begun publishing additional test ISIRs in a public Department of Education GitHub repository. While we are sharing these files here, we strongly encourage use of GitHub as any updates to test files are likely to first appear there.

Additional 2024–25 Test ISIR Data File, 4KB

Note: Test ISIRs that are submitted by schools and software vendors for review will only be available in the Department of Education GitHub repository.

Last Modified: 06/26/2024