Overview

• Delays in the rollout of the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are causing uncertainty and frustration among students and parents.
• The updated FAFSA form, which now includes an inflation tool, was not ready for its usual October release, leading to delays in financial aid decisions.
• Schools are adapting to the delay by extending deadlines for accepting offers of admission, with some moving away from the traditional May 1 deadline.
• The Education Department is taking steps to alleviate the impact of the delays, including reducing verification requirements and providing technical assistance to under-resourced schools.
• More than 17 million students use the FAFSA annually, with over 4 million forms successfully submitted as of mid-February despite the challenges.