FASFA Delays

To prospective college students, May 1 is widely known as National College Decision Day. This year, however, that date may not be a firm deadline for many colleges across the country. Several colleges and universities have already extended this deadline, and more are expected to follow suit. 

The extension stems from multiple delays in the rollout of the newly updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The rollout happened in December 2023. Students and parents, as well as many college administrators, were already anxious about the December date of the rollout which occurred months after FAFSA applications are usually completed in October. 

To prospective college students, May 1 is widely known as National College Decision Day. This year, however, that date may not be a firm deadline for many colleges across the country. Several colleges and universities have already extended this deadline, and more are expected to follow suit. 

The extension stems from multiple delays in the rollout of the newly updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The rollout happened in December 2023. Students and parents, as well as many college administrators, were already anxious about the December date of the rollout which occurred months after FAFSA applications are usually completed in October. 

The new FAFSA changes are due to the bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020 which led to an overhaul of the application. According to the US Department of Education, the latest delay was caused by the department’s failure to update the tablets used in the Student Aid Index which replaced the expected family contribution section to account for inflation. 

Because of this delay, colleges won’t start receiving student financial information until March rather than in January. This later date means that students will receive their financial aid offers much later than usual, making the May 1 deadline difficult, if not impossible, for many prospective students.

So far, these FAFSA delays are affecting public universities and smaller private colleges, several of which have pushed back their May 1 deadline. However, these delays may cause a snowball effect that could be felt by larger institutions as well. 

As deadlines continue to change, we will update you with any more information that is reported. In the meantime, when college acceptance letters start arriving in the next month or so, be sure to note the deadline for each university to which you are accepted as they may not all be the same!

The new FAFSA changes are due to the bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020 which led to an overhaul of the application. According to the US Department of Education, the latest delay was caused by the department’s failure to update the tablets used in the Student Aid Index which replaced the expected family contribution section to account for inflation. 

Because of this delay, colleges won’t start receiving student financial information until March rather than in January. This later date means that students will receive their financial aid offers much later than usual, making the May 1 deadline difficult, if not impossible, for many prospective students.

So far, these FAFSA delays are affecting public universities and smaller private colleges, several of which have pushed back their May 1 deadline. However, these delays may cause a snowball effect that could be felt by larger institutions as well. 

As deadlines continue to change, we will update you with any more information that is reported. In the meantime, when college acceptance letters start arriving in the next month or so, be sure to note the deadline for each university to which you are accepted as they may not all be the same!