04/22/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/22/2024 09:50
Governors across the country are committed to providing meaningful, accessible, and affordable postsecondary pathways to residents of their state. This includes providing robust state-based aid programs and quality counseling and advising to support students in choosing the right path. Federal student aid programs help supplement existing state-based aid programs and provide the opportunity, particularly for low-income students, to access these pathways. Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step a student must take to determine their eligibility for numerous federal, state, and institutional aid and scholarship programs.
Though the FAFSA is a gateway to financial aid for postsecondary education, the complexity of the FAFSA has historically been a barrier to completion to many students and families who would qualify for aid. To remove that barrier and streamline the application process, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act at the end of 2020, which included the redesign of the FAFSA form that the U.S. Department of Education (The Department) launched December 31, 2023.
The Department's new "Better FAFSA" is intended to shorten the length of the application and expand access to aid programs like the Pell Grant, while providing tools and information to assist families in its completion. Those benefits, however, have been overshadowed by numerous rollout delays and glitches, leaving Governors concerned about FAFSA completion rates in their state and territory and scrambling to meet the financial aid needs of both current and prospective postsecondary students.
Since the current FAFSA process has been delayed, FAFSA completion has declined and there is a concern that postsecondary enrollment will see an unexpected drop, at a time when nation-wide enrollment trends continue to tick downward. According to the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), since the launch of the "Better FAFSA" completion by high school seniors has declined by nearly 40% relative to this time last year. At this rate, postsecondary enrollment is on track to decrease as well - at a time when Governors are still recovering from enrollment declines following the COVID-19 pandemic.
To mitigate the impacts of the delay, Governors across the political spectrum have stepped in to provide support for students in their state. Across the board, they are preparing for the consequences of the FAFSA delays by providing maximum flexibility in deadlines, increasing communication and information sharing, and focusing outreach efforts with a more hands-on approach in FAFSA completion.
The federal deadline for the FAFSA is on June 30 each year; however, states and colleges typically set an earlier spring deadline because they have limited funds to disperse to students whose out-of-pocket costs are not met by the Pell Grant. With the delayed rollout of the FAFSA, coupled with the changes to student aid calculations, states are extending their financial aid deadlines, so students won't miss out on those funds. Additionally, many states have extended their FAFSA deadlines for state and institutional aid through the summer of 2024 with the hopes of higher completion rates.
"Now is the time to ensure the high school seniors and college students in your life have completed their FAFSA."
Missouri Governor Mike ParsonMany students and families remain unaware of the changes to the FAFSA and are subsequently surprised and discouraged from completing it once they begin the process. To combat this, some Governors have instituted communication strategies and other information sharing campaigns that raise awareness around the FAFSA and encourage its completion before the end of the 2023 - 2024 school year.
"The Finish Line to the FAFSA campaign is calling on our community to work together to raise awareness about the FAFSA, organize events, and provide support to Arizona high schools and graduating seniors."
Arizona Governor Katie HobbsAcknowledging the time consuming and at times challenging process of completing the FAFSA, some Governors have taken a more hands-on approach to increasing the number of students and families completing applications.
"Far too often, students and families miss out on the full scope of financial aid opportunities available to them, causing many to miss out on this critical support. We're bridging the information gap and providing students with the resources they need to complete their FAFSA application and unlock financial aid opportunities that can support their higher education journey."
New York Governor Kathy HochulThe new FAFSA application has a number of changes and potentially new challenges for families that slows their completion. In response to these issues, states are responding with additional resources and support.
"Applying for the FAFSA is the gateway to qualifying for grants, work-study funds and federal student loans, as well as certain state-based aid to pay for college and career training programs."
North Dakota Governor Doug BurgumGovernors are confronting the decline in FAFSA completion and the pressure on state aid by providing additional support to students and their families to ensure they can access financial resources for postsecondary education. Despite the difficult revamp, the FAFSA remains the pathway to aid for college for millions of students, and while the federal government continues to improve the FAFSA form and application process, Governors will continue to take thoughtful actions in support of students and their families.