"This year, a new version of the federal financial aid form has caused serious problems throughout higher education," GOVERNING reports.

..."Some students are rethinking their plans as a result, he says, opting for community college where the Oregon Promise Grant offers two years of free tuition. Others have lost out on scholarship opportunities because of their inability to complete the FAFSA. While these struggles mainly impact students from mixed-status families, students across the board continue to be affected by delays and what Plata calls “glitches.”

The Department of Education has cleared its backlog of FAFSAs waiting to be processed. However, there are still concerns about potential long-term impacts.

'Having one year of low enrollment for a tuition-dependent institution could mean the difference between keeping its doors open or not,' says Jill Desjean, senior policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. 'The big picture, what we're worried about, is just fewer students ultimately getting a college degree.'"

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 4/30/2024