Hundreds of thousands of financial aid applications need to be fixed after latest calculation error

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Education Department said it has discovered a calculation error in hundreds of thousands of student financial aid applications sent to colleges this month and will need to reprocess them — a blunder that follows a series of others and threatens further delays to this year’s college applications. Officials said they have fixed the error and it “will not affect future records.” It’s unlikely that many students, if any, received financial aid offers based on the incorrect information since the department only began sending records in the last two weeks. After so many delays, he added, “Every error adds up and will be felt acutely by every student who is counting on need-based financial aid to make their postsecondary dreams a reality.” The latest misstep has to do with the Student Aid Index, a new formula used to determine students’ level of financial need after they submit the FAFSA application. “We remain focused on helping students and families through this process and supporting colleges produce aid offers as quickly as possible.” ___ The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations.