Important Dates Fall 2024
 

Don't Wait to Fill Out the 2024-25 FAFSA


Posted By: Jeanne Ballard - 11/1/2023 11:00:00 AM

The FAFSA is the application that students must complete to apply for federal student aid. This includes Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, federal student loans, and work-study.

There is no need to wait to file your 2024-25 FAFSA.  It will be available in December 2023!

Students are now able to submit a FAFSA earlier.  Students normally would have been able to file a 2024–25 FAFSA since Oct. 1, 2023, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, 2024. The earlier submission date is a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as Oct. 1 every year. The 2024-25 FAFSA has been delayed until December 2023 due to the redesign of the form.

Students now report earlier income information. Students are required to report income information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2024–25 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) must report their 2022 income information, rather than their 2023 income information.

The following table provides a summary of key dates for FAFSA submission and reporting of earlier tax information. 

When a Student Is Attending College

When a Student Can Submit a FAFSA

Which Year’s Income Information Is Required

2023-2024

October 1, 2022–June 30, 2024

2021

2024-2025

December, 2023–June 30, 2025

2022

2025-2026

October 1, 2024-June 30, 2026

2023

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2024-25 FAFSA

How will the changes benefit me?

Because the FAFSA will ask for older income and tax information, you will already have done your taxes by the time you fill out your FAFSA, and you will not need to estimate your tax information and then go back into the FAFSA later to update it. Also, because you will already have done your taxes by the time you fill out your FAFSA, you may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) to automatically import your tax information into your FAFSA.

Why should I use the IRS DRT?

The IRS DRT is a great tool that is available to simplify the FAFSA application process. If you use the IRS DRT you do not have to find your tax records, and you do not have to worry about making mistakes entering your tax information on your FAFSA.

Will my 2023-24 FAFSA information be carried over onto the 2024-25 FAFSA?

No; too much could have changed since you filed your last FAFSA, and there is no way to predict what might be different, so you will need to enter the information again. If you choose the Renewal FAFSA option when you start your application at studentaid.gov, some basic information from your 2023–24 FAFSA will be prepopulated in your 2024–25 FAFSA.

Can I choose to report 2023 information if my family's income has dropped significantly since we filed 2022 taxes?

No. You must report 2022 tax and income information, as the FAFSA requires.

Do I report my 2022 tax and income information on the 2024-25 FAFSA now, and then update it once I have filed my 2023 taxes?

No. Do not update after filing your taxes. The 2024–25 FAFSA asks for 2022 tax information.

What if my parents' (or my) marital status has changed since we filed 2022 taxes? How do we supply tax and income information on the FAFSA?

 Here are some tips for this type of situation:

  • The FAFSA asks for marital status “as of today” (the day it is filled out). So if the student or parent is married now but was not in 2022 (and therefore did not file taxes as married), the spouse’s income will need to be added to the FAFSA.
  • Similarly, if the student or parent filed 2022 taxes as married but is no longer married when filling out the FAFSA, the spouse’s income will need to be subtracted.
  • And if the student or parent was married when filing 2022 taxes, then got divorced and is now married to someone else, there is a bit more math to do: Subtract the ex’s income, then add the new spouse’s income.

Do I have to apply for admission to a school before I list it on my FAFSA?

 No. On your FAFSA, list all the schools to which you have applied or might apply.

Good luck and let us know if you have any questions.  We want to provide the financial support you need to afford your education!

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TEACHING. LEARNING. LEADING.
Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. // Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. 
  • Vernon Campus
    4400 College Drive
    Vernon, TX 76384
    940.552.6291
  • Century City Center
    4105 Maplewood
    Wichita Falls, TX 76308
    940.696.8752
  • Skills Training Center
    2813 Central Expressway East
    Wichita Falls, TX 76302
    940.766.3369
1970 marked the beginning of Vernon College. Throughout this decade the College continued to grow and more students enrolled in both on- and off-campus courses. On January 20, 1970, a majority of the citizens of Wilbarger County voted to create the Wilbarger County Junior College District. Following that decision, Vernon Regional Junior College was established and on April 9, 1970, the newly elected Board of Trustees appointed Dr. David L. Norton as the College’s first president. Campus construction began in May 1971, and included an Academic Science Center, Administration-Fine Arts Center, Applied Arts Center, Library, and Student Center. The following year, on September 5, 1972, classes met for the first time on the Vernon campus with a total of 608 students. On August 1, 1974, Dr. Jim M. Williams became the College’s second president. In the fall semester of that year, combined on- and off-campus enrollment exceeded 800 students. During the 1975-76 academic year, the College expanded its services to include a learning center on Sheppard Air Force Base. During this year, enrollment in credit courses, both on- and off-campus, rose to a level of 1,199. The scope of the Vocational Nursing Program was enlarged during the 1976-77 academic year with the assumption of the Bethania School of Vocational Nursing in Wichita Falls. In August 1976 the Physical Education Center was dedicated in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas A. King longtime benefactors of Vernon College. Growth and changes continued during the 1980s. In August 1980 a Student Residence Center, designed to house 128 students, opened for occupancy. Further expansion of program offerings in the Wichita Falls area was accomplished through absorption of an existing proprietary school that was renamed the Vernon College Technical Center and the integration of the nursing program from the Wichita Falls Independent School District. On March 22, 1982, Dr. Joe Mills took over the leadership of the College as the third president. That fall, the College fielded its first intercollegiate rodeo team. During 1983-84, the Department of Cosmetology and the Career Development Center (previously known as the North Texas Skills Center) were established in Wichita Falls. On the Vernon campus, the Chaparral Center was completed, and the Pease River farm purchased through a state land trade. The following academic year, 1984-85, Vernon College reached a record credit enrollment of 1,863 and a record continuing education enrollment of 7,056 registrations. A Vocational Nursing Program opened in Seymour, and the Board of Trustees established a college foundation and approved an agreement to allow construction of the Red River Valley Museum on the Vernon campus. In February 1987 the College played its first intercollegiate baseball game on the Vernon campus. During May of that year, the new Natatorium was opened in the King Physical Education Center. A newly constructed Athletic Dormitory opened to house 28 athletes in August 1988. In October, Trustees voted to add women’s volleyball as a varsity sport, effective with the fall 1989 semester. In May 1989 Vernon College moved all Wichita Falls programs to one centralized location—Century City Center. Since the College opened its doors 38 years ago, many individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations have made an investment in our students through the creation of endowed and annual scholarships. As of this year, more than 100 scholarship funds are available to help students pursue their educational dreams.VERNON COLLEGE PHILOSOPHY: Vernon College is a constantly evolving institution, dedicated primarily to effective teaching and regional enhancement. With this dedication to teaching and to the community, the College encourages open inquiry, personal and social responsibility, critical thinking, and life-long learning for students, faculty, and other individuals within its service area. The College takes as its guiding educational principle the proposition that, insofar as available resources permit, instruction should be adapted to student needs. This principle requires both flexibility in instructional strategies and maintenance of high academic standards. Strong programs of assessment and accountability complement this educational principle. VC accepts the charge of providing a college atmosphere free of bias, in which students can exercise initiative and personal judgment, leading to a greater awareness of personal self-worth. It strives to provide every student with opportunities to develop the tools necessary to become a contributing, productive member of society. Vision VERNON COLLEGE VISION: Vernon College will promote a culture of success for our students and communities through learner-centered quality instructional programs and exemplary services. Values VERNON COLLEGE VALUES: Vernon College promotes a culture of success through our shared values and commitment to: Accessibility Accountability Building Relationships Diversity Inclusion Innovation Leadership Quality Student Success Teamwork Our values define who we are and guide us in conducting our business every day. Our values are our morals – what is important to us at our college. Mission VERNON COLLEGE MISSION The mission of Vernon College is teaching, learning, and leading. Vernon College is a comprehensive community college that integrates education with opportunity through our instructional programs and student support services by means of traditional and distance learning modes. Therefore, to fulfill its mission, the College will provide access, within its available resources, to: Career technical/workforce programs up to two years in length leading to associate degrees or certificates; Career technical/workforce programs leading directly to employment in semi-skilled and skilled occupations; Freshman and sophomore courses in arts and sciences, including the curricula leading to associate and baccalaureate degrees; Ongoing adult education programs for occupational upgrading or personal enrichment; Compensatory education programs designed to fulfill the commitment of an admissions policy allowing the enrollment of disadvantaged students; ; A continuing program of counseling and guidance designed to assist students in achieving their individual educational goals; Career technical/workforce development programs designed to meet local and statewide needs; Support services for educational programs and college-related activities; Adult literacy and other basic skills programs for adults; and Other To help prospective and current students, faculty, and staff locate important information about Vernon College, this webpage provides links to helpful information on a variety of government mandated and consumer information. Examples are academic programs, cost of attendance, financial aid, safety and security, and institutional financial reports. Vernon College’s presentation of this information complies with the Higher Education Act, as amended, and implementing regulations.