The chaos surrounding the new FAFSA process has led to a significant drop in the number of high school seniors applying for federal financial aid, particularly among those who may need it the most, according to data from the National College Attainment Network. Only 32.9% of high school seniors had completed the FAFSA as of April 19, a 29% decrease from last year. Schools with high minority or low-income populations have seen even larger drops in completion rates. Experts warn that this drop in FAFSA completions could potentially result in a decline in college enrollment this fall, as seniors who complete the FAFSA are significantly more likely to enroll in college immediately after graduation.
Mark Kantrowitz, a higher education expert, predicts a 19% drop in FAFSA completions overall, with a potential sharp decline in college enrollment to follow. The issues with the new FAFSA process, which first opened to students in January, have included tech problems that caused delays and pushed back college acceptance decisions. Students have reported difficulties with processing times, error correction waits, and trouble for parents creating their Federal Student Aid ID, particularly for non-U.S. citizens. Colleges have also faced delays in receiving information from the federal government, leading to shortened decision timelines for students.
As of April 19, only 1,370,815 FAFSA forms had been completed, a 29.1% decrease from the previous year. This year’s FAFSA application process has been significantly different from past years, with changes mandated by Congress in 2020 aimed at overhauling the Department of Education’s lending process and aid formulas. However, some students have received lower aid packages due to outdated consumer price index figures used in the formulas. Changes to the application include a reduction in the number of questions, eliminating the multi-student discount, and reduced assistance for wealthier or middle-income families.
Richard Cordray, head of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) office, stepped down from his position following the chaotic FAFSA rollout. The replacement for his role has not yet been announced. The federal deadline to complete the FAFSA is June 30, 2025, but individual states may have earlier deadlines. Some states have already passed their deadlines, leading to uncertainty for students and families navigating the new FAFSA process. Over 190 schools have since pushed their decision deadlines to mid-May or June to accommodate the delays caused by the new FAFSA process.
