On December 27, 2020, congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations act, streamlining the process to apply for federal student aid. Including provisions of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the updates expanded access to Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) funds and simplified questions for applicants. However, the simplification removes the consideration for multiple children enrolled in college, limiting financial aid for large families. First rolled out for applications during the 2023-2024 school year, the digital application was delayed, and plagued with errors for users. According to the Government Accountability Office, “Delays, glitches, and other issues led to a 9% decline in submitted FAFSA applications among first-time applicants, and an overall decline of about 432,000 applications as of the end of August.” Even for the students that did complete the FAFSA, delayed financial aid packages impacted college choice and generated undue stress for otherwise prepared students who were left at the mercy of the bureaucracy. “They had more pressure on them” Mrs. Bleeker said of the class of 2024, “it delayed their decision.” Smaller private colleges dependent on federal aid to support their students also were negatively impacted, with fewer students able to declare without knowing their final costs admissions declined. While the long term impacts of the Simplification Act for students remain unknown, in the short term the update has brought undue stress onto prospective students and limited how students received aid.
Unfortunately, the FAFSA has already been delayed for the 2024-2025 admissions season. According to the U.S. News and World Report, “the U.S. Department of Education announced on August 7 that the upcoming Free Application for Federal Aid form will be opened to all students on December 1—about two months later than the typical release date.” Efforts have been made by the Department of Education to address issues, including Beta testing periods at select schools starting November 1 to work out all glitches. Still the chaos of last year’s roll out hasn’t been forgotten and the delay may portent another frenetic spring before students declare. “I find the FAFSA delay disappointing,” said senior Nevaeh Szparkowski. “It will delay my decision because I’ll have to wait longer.”