Prior-Prior Year (PPY) / Early FAFSA

Background

A federal government decision requires students and families completing a FAFSA to use tax information from two years prior to the academic year, as opposed to one year prior. This shift, commonly referred to as Prior-Prior Year (PPY) or Early FAFSA, has also been adopted by the College Board for those completing the CSS PROFILE. 

Why is This a Positive Change?

Using tax information from two years prior to the academic year ensures that most families will have filed taxes before applying for financial aid. Families will be able to use actual tax information, rather than estimated, when completing the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE. Families have the ability to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) when completing the FAFSA, which allows for automatic transfer of tax information to a student’s FAFSA.

What CMU Students Can Expect

Students wishing to apply for financial aid at Carnegie Mellon:

• May submit a FAFSA earlier. Students will be able to file a 2018-2019 FAFSA as early as October 1, 2017. Completion of the FAFSA will also be simplified for families who use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT), AND

• Are required to use earlier tax information. When completing a 2018-2019 FAFSA and CSS PROFILE, students will report tax information from the 2016 tax year.