If You Still Need Money for College and Haven't Submitted a FAFSA, Fill It Out ASAP, Financial Aid Expert Says
"It's almost time for college students to move into their dorms and get ready for the upcoming school year. If that's you and you haven't checked 'submit my FAFSA' off your to-do list, take care of that ASAP," CNBC reports.
... "While it may have been difficult for students and their families to submit a FAFSA at the beginning of this year's application cycle, most of the technical issues have been resolved by now."
"'Fill out the FAFSA. Just fill it out,' Jill Desjean, senior policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, tells CNBC Make It."
... "There is currently an $11 billion surplus of federal Pell Grant funding waiting to go to eligible students, according to the Congressional Budget Office."
"That doesn't mean more people will become eligible or that eligible aid recipients will inherently receive more federal aid. Since the Pell program is mostly funded through discretionary appropriations in the congressional budget, it's designed to carry a surplus from year to year, Desjean says."
... "Pell Grant eligibility was expanded this year to link eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level. Almost 1.5 million more students are eligible for maximum Pell Grants amounts of $7,395 this year, according to the Department of Education."
"'Maybe you'll get a Pell Grant. But [the FAFSA] also unlocks the door to state grants, it opens the door to institutional grants and other types of federal aid as well,' Desjean says."
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: 7/16/2024
