Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Updates and Information
If you have not already done so, you are encouraged to complete available FAFSAs. Include GCU’s school code (001074) to begin the financial aid process for each year. To avoid any awarding delays, please use your legal first/last name and valid social security number. Be sure to read each question thoroughly before providing your answers, as FAFSA corrections may not be able to be processed before the financial clearance deadline. Some corrections, such as those to names and social security numbers, must be completed by the students. Please direct any questions you have to your student services or university counselor: 1-855-GCU-LOPE.
It takes GCU approximately three days to receive a copy of the FAFSA data after a student submits the form. Once received by GCU, your student services counselor will contact you to collect any additional documentation that may be required. After all documentation has been collected and processed, you will be able to set up your payment plans well in advance of the financial clearance deadline for your start date.
Key Dates for 2024-25 Award Year
The 2024-25 FAFSA application was released later than prior years due to a significant overhaul of the application to support the FAFSA Simplification Act. To assist students during this period, we have provided a chart with anticipated milestone dates. For GCU-specific information, please contact your university counselor.
| Milestone | Anticipated Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 2024-25 FAFSA | Daily | A FAFSA for 2024-25 is required for Federal Student Aid for students attending through June 30, 2025. |
| ED correction update | 10/25/24 | Although many of the FAFSA entry and correction issues have been resolved, some continue to occur. Reach out to your counselor if you encounter any difficulties completing your FAFSA or making corrections. You may also get requests from your counselor to make corrections that otherwise could have been made on your behalf by school staff. |
Chart updated as of Jan. 8, 2025
2025-26 FAFSA Updates And Information
You are encouraged to complete your 2025-26 FAFSA as soon as it is available. Be sure to include GCU’s school code (001074). To avoid any awarding delays, please use your legal first/last name and valid social security number. Be sure to read each question thoroughly before providing your answers, as FAFSA corrections may not be able to be processed before the financial clearance deadline. Some corrections, such as those to names and social security numbers, must be completed by the students. Please direct any questions you have to your student services or university counselor: 1-855-GCU-LOPE.
Key Dates for 2025-26 Award Year
The FAFSA for 2025-26 is expected to be available in early December. Watch this page and updates from your counselor regarding the availability of the application.
| Milestone | Date | Details |
| 2025-26 FAFSA release date | Early December | The 2025-26 FAFSA is available. Those who will be attending on or after July 1, 2025 should apply as soon as possible. |
Chart updated as of Jan. 8, 2025
Explore the following additional resources to enhance your understanding of the 2024-25 FAFSA soft launch:
Pell Awards are only an estimate and are not guaranteed. Your Pell award (if applicable) may be based on the prior year’s Pell amounts depending on when your estimate is created. GCU estimated your Pell award based on the information you submitted from either your Federal Student Aid estimator, your FAFSA completion notification email, your FAFSA Submission Summary or information transferred to GCU from your completed FAFSA. This information is subject to change and is only used to provide an estimate. You can monitor the progress of your Federal Student Aid offer and scholarship awards through your financial estimate located in your student portal within the finance hub. Please note: Federal Student Aid will not be packaged until after Congress finalizes the budget for the 2024-25 award year and the Department of Education finalizes the Pell award amounts.
1 Dates and information are subject to change and apply to all traditional students.