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New FAFSA Application Faces Access Issues

Delayed launch and technical difficulties frustrate students, push back financial aid notifications.

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Students make their way through the Sather Gate near Sproul Plaza on the University of California, Berkeley, campus on March 29, 2022.

Overview

  • The new online application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) went live this week, but many students have reported difficulties in accessing it.
  • The FAFSA typically opens at the beginning of October, but was delayed three months due to the launch of the new application.
  • The Department of Education announced a soft launch until all bugs in the new application are fixed.
  • Over half a million successful submissions have been received as of Thursday evening.
  • Due to the delayed launch, colleges won't receive FAFSA information until the end of January at the earliest, pushing back the notification of financial aid awards.