The delay in the rollout of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form impacted the last college admissions cycle. The disruption caused delays in admissions decisions, financial aid planning, and increased stress on both institutions, prospective students and their families. While the technical issues seem to be resolved, the impact of the delay has amplified frustrations with the broader higher education system and weakened the trust in the Department of Education’s ability to manage critical processes.
Fewer 18-year-olds enrolled in college this fall
“Bill DeBaun, senior director of NCAN, said the magnitude of the decline among recent high school graduates is ‘very large and very discouraging,’” the Inside Higher Education stated. While DeBaun acknowledged the recent US Supreme Court case striking down affirmative action as a factor, “he believes the botched FAFSA rollout is the No. 1 culprit. He said June data tracked by NCAN found that FAFSA completions among high school seniors fell 11.5 percent year over year.”
The positives of the new FAFSA
Despite these setbacks, there are some promising aspects of the revamped FAFSA. “Education Undersecretary James Kvaal said that the number of students on track to receive a Pell Grant — aid for undergraduates with exceptional financial need — is higher than at this point in any of the past six years,” according to the The Washington Post. This demonstrates that the new methodology is expanding aid access, achieving a key goal of the reform.
Administrators are also optimistic about the application’s performance. In late-November, The Chronicle of Higher Education headlined an article “The FAFSA Is Live, Tested, and ‘Already Working’” citing administrators who were seeing data that they were happy with coming through the form.
The FAFSA delay drove Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to mandate that the Department of Education set the release date of the application to October 1st, significantly earlier than the current January 1st deadline.
One of FAFSA’s core strengths lies in its ability to clarify the difference between the listed price of university tuition and the applicant’s net price after aid. This transparency is crucial for families navigating the complex decision-making process around college enrollment.
Higher education becoming more student-centric
The changes to the FAFSA process reflect a broader push to make higher education admissions more transparent and accessible. These updates aim to ease the burden on prospective students and their families, ultimately fostering a more student-centric approach to college enrollment.
However, the work doesn’t stop at the federal level. Colleges and universities must also take active steps to reduce friction in the enrollment process. By improving the accessibility and transparency of information, institutions can better support prospective students. This is especially critical as higher education faces increasing challenges, including economic pressures, shifting public sentiment, and declining demographic trends.
In an era of heightened competition and scrutiny, institutions that prioritize student-centered policies and streamlined processes will be better positioned to navigate these headwinds and thrive.