"The U.S. Department of Education announced on Wednesday that the revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, would be available to students 'by December 31,' three months later than usual," The Chronicle of Higher Education reports.

... 'In a written statement on Wednesday, Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, expressed optimism that the simplified FAFSA would benefit millions of students and families. But, he said, 'while it’s true that ED [the Education Department] may have met the letter of the law by opening the FAFSA by December 31, any significant delays in delivering applicant data to schools would fall short of the spirit of the law, leaving the most vulnerable student populations in limbo as they wait for the financial-aid information they need to make vital college-going decisions. We urge our federal partners to do all they can to provide applicant data to institutions as quickly as possible, and to clearly communicate with schools as soon as updates are available.'"

"And time spent distributing aid offers, Draeger said, doesn’t take into account 'the time aid administrators will spend examining the many special circumstances students face, from those who require personalized counseling, financial-aid appeals, FAFSA corrections, professional judgments and considerations, or serving other populations that need one-on-one assistance.'"

"Until FAFSA data reaches colleges, the wheels of this crucial process can’t turn."

"'Every day matters,' Draeger said."

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: 11/15/2023