Students can now apply for federal college aid. Officials hope for a smoother rollout this year
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Students can now apply for federal college aid. Officials hope for a smoother rollout this year

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The federal FAFSA form used to apply for college financial aid opened to high school seniors nationwide on Thursday, a year after a disastrous rollout by the Biden administration delayed the application for months. “After months of hard work and lots of feedback from students, schools and other stakeholders, we can say with confidence that FAFSA is working and will serve as the gateway to college access and affordability to millions of students,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Thursday. An overhaul last year was meant to simplify the famously complex form, but technical problems blocked students from submitting forms or bungled the calculations. The Education Department said it fixed last year’s problems and hired an additional 700 call center workers to help families if they have trouble submitting the form.

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History of this topic

College-bound students fear ‘outing’ undocumented parents on FAFSA financial aid form
2 weeks ago

College-bound students fear ‘outing’ undocumented parents on FAFSA financial aid form

LA Times  

A few days before winter break, Lynda McGee, a college counselor at Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles Unified, got an unexpected visit from a student’s father. “They have to choose between their future and that of their parents.” Submitting financial aid forms this college application season has become a potentially life-altering family decision for California high school seniors …

This year's FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it's 'a piece of cake'
1 month, 3 weeks ago

This year's FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it's 'a piece of cake'

NPR  

This year's FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it's 'a piece of cake' toggle caption Seth Wenig/AP The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is now open to all students and families hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 school year. She has been helping students fill out the form during the testing period, and says, …

Government watchdog blames poor management for FAFSA mishap
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Government watchdog blames poor management for FAFSA mishap

Politico  

The report found that the Federal Student Aid office underestimated the need for skilled workers and call center employees to answer student questions about the new form. “And yet the department has been largely unresponsive.” The Federal Student Aid office has had six chief information officers since the project started, according to the report, although hired a new one last …

Watchdog sheds light on FAFSA fiasco, from a birthday bug to call center failures
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Watchdog sheds light on FAFSA fiasco, from a birthday bug to call center failures

NPR  

Watchdog sheds light on FAFSA fiasco, from a birthday bug to call center failures toggle caption LA Johnson/NPR There’s no question, the rollout of the revamped FAFSA – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid that millions of students must fill out to qualify for college loans and grants – was a slow-motion explosion of mistakes and miscommunication by the …

Editorial: FAFSA is a nightmare for homeless students. Why haven’t we fixed it?
6 months, 1 week ago

Editorial: FAFSA is a nightmare for homeless students. Why haven’t we fixed it?

LA Times  

Los Angeles City College student Josefina Sebastian looks at her laptop in her room at Dunamis House, a Boyle Heights residence for college students who are at risk of homelessness. Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2020 because lawmakers recognized that the long, complicated form discouraged students and families from applying for financial aid, and many couldn’t afford to …

The FAFSA rollout left many students in limbo. Some colleges feel the effects, too
7 months ago

The FAFSA rollout left many students in limbo. Some colleges feel the effects, too

NPR  

The FAFSA rollout left many students in limbo. Some colleges feel the effects, too NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Eric Hoover, reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education, about how last year's chaotic rollout of the FAFSA is affecting colleges and universities. SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST: We are far past the traditional college decision deadline of May 1, but some students …

Experts fear ‘catastrophic’ college declines thanks to botched FAFSA rollout
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Experts fear ‘catastrophic’ college declines thanks to botched FAFSA rollout

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The last thing standing between Ashnaelle Bijoux and her college dream is the FAFSA form — a financial aid application that’s supposed to help students go to college, but is blocking her instead. “I feel like I’m being held back.” Normally a time of celebration for high school seniors, this spring has been marred by the federal government’s …

Caught up in the FAFSA chaos? Some students now have a workaround
9 months, 1 week ago

Caught up in the FAFSA chaos? Some students now have a workaround

LA Times  

Students get help earlier this year filling out the FAFSA form at Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles. The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is all-important for many students looking to afford college. But on Tuesday, the California Student Aid Commission provided welcome news, announcing it would offer an alternative financial aid application option for students …

Opinion: Struggling to get help with college through the FAFSA? Here’s why you shouldn’t give up
9 months, 1 week ago

Opinion: Struggling to get help with college through the FAFSA? Here’s why you shouldn’t give up

LA Times  

Applying to college and navigating the financial aid process is never easy, especially for first-generation students. As the leader of an organization working to ensure that California students get the financial aid that will allow them to achieve their college dreams, I’m deeply concerned that so many students and families have been struggling to complete their applications. The Free Application …

California extends deadline for students seeking state financial aid amid FAFSA turmoil
9 months, 3 weeks ago

California extends deadline for students seeking state financial aid amid FAFSA turmoil

LA Times  

Student make their way along Bruin Walk East, on the UCLA Campus in May 2023. California students will have an extra month to submit applications for state financial aid, a deadline extension to help with ongoing setbacks and delays that have plagued the roll out of new federal forms that colleges and states rely on to calculate a student’s scholarships …

FAFSA delays prompt California lawmakers to extend deadline for student financial aid applications
9 months, 3 weeks ago

FAFSA delays prompt California lawmakers to extend deadline for student financial aid applications

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Legislature on Thursday voted to give prospective college students more time to apply for two of the state’s largest financial aid programs after a glitch in the federal government’s application system threatened to block up to 100,000 people from getting help. That meant many students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents but whose parents …

College financial aid extension in the works for California students hurt by FAFSA mess
9 months, 4 weeks ago

College financial aid extension in the works for California students hurt by FAFSA mess

LA Times  

California lawmakers are speedily moving forward toward approving a bill that would extend a key college financial aid deadline by a month to help students whose applications have been mired in problems at the federal level. “So I’m supposed to sit there and talk a parent into sending something very private like their personal documents to some generic email?” College …

The Most Confusing, Chaotic College Admissions Season in Years
10 months ago

The Most Confusing, Chaotic College Admissions Season in Years

Live Mint  

Logan Zielinski, a high-school senior in Sterling Heights, Mich., spent much of the fall getting wooed by football coaches at small Midwestern colleges. Many students can’t seriously consider college without financial aid, and counselors worry frustrations with the application could lead to enrollment declines. “It kind of feels like a punishment for us students who have mixed-status families," said Gil …

Education Department starts sending financial aid data to colleges after months of delays
10 months ago

Education Department starts sending financial aid data to colleges after months of delays

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — After months of delays and technical hiccups, some colleges and universities have started to receive federal data they need to put together financial aid offers for incoming students, the Biden administration said Monday. FAFSA information is used to award state and federal education grants, and schools use it to assemble financial aid packages for prospective students. “Any delays …

Education Department starts sending financial aid data to colleges after months of delays
10 months ago

Education Department starts sending financial aid data to colleges after months of delays

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy After months of delays and …

Opinion: The college tuition system is broken. FAFSA headaches are the latest proof
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Opinion: The college tuition system is broken. FAFSA headaches are the latest proof

LA Times  

Thanks to delays in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process, millions of potential college students and their families will have to wait longer than usual to learn what their financial aid packages will look like. Filling out the FAFSA is how potential college students prove their financial eligibility for aid that will help them cover tuition — Pell …

Students and parents are frustrated by delays in hearing about federal financial aid for college
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Students and parents are frustrated by delays in hearing about federal financial aid for college

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — For many students, the excitement of being accepted into their first-choice college is being tempered this year by a troublesome uncertainty over whether they’ll get the financial aid they need to attend. AP AUDIO: Students and parents are frustrated by delays in hearing about federal financial aid for college. “We can’t make a decision until we see …

Students and parents are frustrated by delays in hearing about federal financial aid for college
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Students and parents are frustrated by delays in hearing about federal financial aid for college

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Education Department said the form would be easier …

Editorial: Applying for financial aid to college shouldn’t be this torturous
11 months ago

Editorial: Applying for financial aid to college shouldn’t be this torturous

LA Times  

Getting help paying for college starts with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but this year there’s major glitch. The U.S. Education Department, which is responsible for the FAFSA, has set up help lines, but the lines are swamped with calls and many students can’t get through. This week, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the department …

Feds move to ease FAFSA financial aid chaos, but no quick fix emerges
11 months ago

Feds move to ease FAFSA financial aid chaos, but no quick fix emerges

LA Times  

Under enormous pressure, federal education officials announced Tuesday another round of steps to ease a crisis caused by the trouble-plagued rollout of the key form used by aspiring college students to calculate all-important financial aid packages linked to their upcoming college acceptances. “Our top priority is to ensure students can access the maximum financial aid possible to help them pursue …

UC and CSU extend May 1 deadline to accept admission offers for fall 2024, citing FAFSA delays
11 months, 1 week ago

UC and CSU extend May 1 deadline to accept admission offers for fall 2024, citing FAFSA delays

LA Times  

Students admitted to UCLA who completed their intent to enroll win cheers from campus members in 2020. The University of California and California State University announced Wednesday they are extending the May 1 deadline for students to accept their admission offers for fall 2024, citing delays applicants are facing in completing a new federal financial aid form. “Students who have …

CSU plans to expand student grants to cover full tuition and living expenses
11 months, 2 weeks ago

CSU plans to expand student grants to cover full tuition and living expenses

LA Times  

At “Go Beach” sign stands at Cal State Long Beach. California State University trustees voted Wednesday to expand grants to fund the full cost of tuition and living expenses for students who show they need the aid to attend college. The decision is the first step to make good on a pledge they made last fall that at least a …

The new FAFSA is meant to make applying for college aid easier, but not everyone can access it yet
1 year ago

The new FAFSA is meant to make applying for college aid easier, but not everyone can access it yet

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — A new online application designed to make applying for federal student aid easier went live this week, but not everyone has been able to access it. The beta testing-like process has complicated financial aid advisors’ communication with students, said Helen Faith, director of the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since this year’s timeline …

What to know about changes to this year’s FAFSA application for college students
1 year ago

What to know about changes to this year’s FAFSA application for college students

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — A new version of the federal student aid application known as the FAFSA is now available to all college applicants for the 2024-2025 school year. The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid was designed to make it easier for students and parents to apply and to make more of them eligible for funding. The FAFSA is …

FAFSA season starts: What you need to know for financial aid
2 years, 3 months ago

FAFSA season starts: What you need to know for financial aid

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The Free Application for Federal Student Aid filing season starts Oct. 1 for the 2023-2024 school year. The FAFSA is a free government application that uses financial information from you and your family to determine whether you can get financial aid from the federal government to pay for college. Before starting your application, McCarthy recommends using your …

FAFSA season starts: What you need to know for financial aid
2 years, 3 months ago

FAFSA season starts: What you need to know for financial aid

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The FAFSA is a free government application that uses …

A guide to the coming financial-aid process
2 years, 5 months ago

A guide to the coming financial-aid process

Live Mint  

With the college-application process kicking off this month, the quest for financial aid is just around the corner. Not applying Many families don’t believe they will qualify for financial aid, so they never fill out the Fafsa, or the CSS Profile, which nearly 250 schools, mostly private, require for nonfederal aid. Families who can’t use the retrieval tool should use …

You got into your dream school, but it’s pricey. Can California help pay for it?
2 years, 8 months ago

You got into your dream school, but it’s pricey. Can California help pay for it?

LA Times  

Students at Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles meet with college admissions officers during an information session on campus. Expanded Cal Grants: This past year, state elected officials significantly expanded Cal Grants — already the largest state financial aid program in the nation — by liberalizing eligibility requirements and providing award offers to an additional 140,000 community college students …

Didn't Get Enough Financial Aid For College? You Can Ask For More Money
3 years, 11 months ago

Didn't Get Enough Financial Aid For College? You Can Ask For More Money

NPR  

Didn't Get Enough Financial Aid For College? And a student's financial aid package might not be enough to cover their costs because of the way the federal aid system is set up: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA — the form which determines a student's eligibility for financial aid for college — uses tax data from 2019. …

FAFSA 2022-23: Here's how to apply for college financial aid : Life Kit : NPR
4 years, 2 months ago

FAFSA 2022-23: Here's how to apply for college financial aid : Life Kit : NPR

NPR  

FAFSA applications are open. Yes, it's a government form, but it's free, and it's the first step in getting financial aid that could be the key to going to college. Lots of schools determine financial aid on a rolling basis, so you could hear back in a few weeks — and some more selective schools won't let students know their …

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