1. Short title This Act may be cited as the HOPE (Heightening Opportunities for Pathways to Education) for FAFSA Act . 2. Expected family contribution (a) Data elements Section 474(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087nn(b) ) is amended in paragraph (4), by inserting before the net the following: only in the case of a pathway three applicant, . (b) Dependent students Section 475 of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1087oo ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting before the student the following: only in the case of a pathway three applicant, ; (2) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by inserting before the parents’ the following: only in the case of a pathway three applicant, ; and (3) in subsection (b)(3), by striking award period and inserting award year . (c) Independent students without dependents other than a spouse Section 476(a)(1)(B) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1087pp(a)(1)(B) ) is amended by inserting before the family’s contribution the following: only in the case of a pathway three applicant, . (d) Independent students with dependents other than a spouse Section 477(a)(1)(B) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1087qq(a)(1)(B) ) is amended by inserting before the family’s contribution the following: only in the case of a pathway three applicant, . 3. Zero expected family contribution Section 479 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087ss ) is amended to read as follows: 479. Zero expected family contribution (a) In general The Secretary shall consider an applicant to have an expected family contribution equal to zero if— (1) in the case of a dependent student— (A) (i) the student’s parents are not required to file— (I) a Federal income tax return; or (II) with respect to Internal Revenue Service Form 1040, any of the following forms: Schedule A, Schedule B, Schedule C, Schedule C–EZ, Schedule D, Schedule E, Schedule F, Schedule H, Schedule J, and Schedule SE; and (ii) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the parents is less than or equal to $34,000