The new and improved Free Application for Federal Student Aid is here. SUNY Jamestown Community College is building a team to help prospective students and their families navigate the FAFSA form, which helps determine a student's eligibility for financial aid.
JCC recently hired a project coordinator and a small group of students to serve as part of the State University of New York FAFSA Completion Corps. Thanks to a $300,000 grant from AmeriCorps, as many as 48 students across six SUNY campuses are being trained to provide FAFSA assistance to high school students, adult learners, and enrolled college students in their region through financial aid nights, working with community organizations, and interacting on campuses.
The team at JCC, led by Project Coordinator Shannon Rinow, is planning office hours, campus events, and visits to regional high schools. The college has hired three students to assist Rinow and as many as four more could be added to the group.
FAFSA is the starting point for most federal and state financial aid. The updated 2024-25 form, which launched on Dec. 31, expands eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, and provides a streamlined user experience with fewer questions.
Approximately 610,000 new students from low-income backgrounds will be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants due to updates to student aid calculations. Plus, applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 questions, depending on their individual circumstances. Some applicants may be required to answer as few as 18 questions, which could take less than 10 minutes.
To get started on applying for aid to pay for college attendance for the 2024-25 academic year, students and prospective parent contributors must apply for a Federal Student AID ID at StudentAid.gov at least three to five days before completing the FAFSA. The FAFSA form can be accessed at StudentAid.gov/FAFSA.
There may be pauses on the FAFSA site for maintenance and technical updates to provide a better experience.
Contact JCC’s FAFSA completion team at 716.338.1000 or shannonrinow@mail.sunyjcc.edu for help completing the application.
Students at the University at Albany, Buffalo State University, SUNY Canton, Genesee Community College, and SUNY Old Westbury are also participating in the FAFSA Completion Corps.
"SUNY is an extraordinary value proposition, and more than half of SUNY undergraduates are able to attend tuition-free thanks to state and federal financial aid," said John B. King, SUNY chancellor. "We are excited to launch the FAFSA Completion Corps so more New Yorkers can receive the financial aid they deserve.”
Visit sunyjcc.edu/FinancialAid for more information on JCC financial aid, the FAFSA, and scholarships.