FAFSA Delays Spark Frustration Among Students and Parents

The revised application's late release disrupts college financial planning, prompting schools to extend admission deadlines.

Delays in the rollout of the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are causing uncertainty and frustration among students and parents.
The updated FAFSA form, which now includes an inflation tool, was not ready for its usual October release, leading to delays in financial aid decisions.
Schools are adapting to the delay by extending deadlines for accepting offers of admission, with some moving away from the traditional May 1 deadline.
The Education Department is taking steps to alleviate the impact of the delays, including reducing verification requirements and providing technical assistance to under-resourced schools.
More than 17 million students use the FAFSA annually, with over 4 million forms successfully submitted as of mid-February despite the challenges.