JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

ISAC File Layouts for 2024-25 FAFSA and Alternative Application Processing

10/19/2023

In preparation for the implementation of processing changes related to the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), ISAC has made updates to the 160-byte file layout that is used for MAP processing. The key change to the layout for the 2024-25 award year is the removal of data elements that can be considered Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to protect student identity when transmitting files between ISAC and colleges. Data elements that will no longer be included on the file are:

  • student Social Security number (SSN),
  • student Last Name (previously an optional field),
  • original SSN, and
  • Name ID.

The SSN will be replaced on the 160-byte file layout with the student's Person Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) that is assigned to the student by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as part of the FAFSA Processing System (FPS), starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA processing cycle. The Person UUID field is 36 characters in length, and the total number of characters being removed (SSN – 9, Last Name – 16, Original SSN – 9, and Name ID – 2) is also 36, so the length of the file will not change.

New Identifiers

According to the current draft of the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) file layout for 2024-25, FPS will generate three types of UUIDs for FAFSA applicants:

  • FAFSA UUID – FPS universally unique identifier used to identify a student's FAFSA Application
  • Transaction UUID – FPS universally unique identifier used to identify a transaction
  • Person UUID – FPS universally unique identifier used to identify an applicant across FAFSAs

ISAC plans to use the Person UUID as the student identifier in the 160-byte file layout for MAP processing, as it is expected to be an identifier that will stay the same for the student across FAFSA cycles.

This change to the 160-byte file layout for 2024-25 means that schools will be working with two different file layouts while the 2023-24 award year remains in active processing. Additionally, ISAC is also in the process of adjusting information in the MAP system in GAP Access. Screen layouts will remain much the same, however, we are working to adjust data elements and verbiage based on changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA.

Release of Alternative Application to Coincide with FAFSA Release

ISAC will be prepared to release the 2024-25 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid at the same time that the 2024-25 FAFSA is released. The application will continue to mirror the FAFSA form as much as possible, and will calculate a Student Aid Index (SAI) that will be used in the same way as the federal SAI for purposes of determining MAP eligibility.

For students who complete the Alternative Application, ISAC will generate a comparable Person UUID to provide on the Alternative Application Student Record (in addition to the ISAC ID# that is generated when a student begins the Alternative Application process). Both the ISAC ID# and the ISAC UUID will remain associated with the student over the course of their financial aid experience with ISAC.

2024-25 Alternative Application File Layout and Processing

An updated file layout for the 2024-25 Alternative Application Student Record (which is comparable to the ISIR file), will be provided to colleges as soon as possible once ED has announced that the file layout for the ISIR is final.

Consistent with usual business practices, ISAC will begin accepting ISIRs and Alternative Application Student Records in the MAP system in GAP Access as soon as the 2024-25 applications become available and, a few days after start-up, ISAC will begin providing 2024-25 MAP eligibility information to colleges. As is typical, ISAC will first ensure that all records are loading properly and awards are being accurately calculated before displaying MAP eligibility information to the colleges. Once that process begins, schools will continue to see eligibility data as students continue to complete the FAFSA and the Alternative Application throughout the award year.

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If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact ISAC's School Services Department by calling toll free at 866.247.2172 or sending an e-mail message to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov.