From Time:

Students applying for college this year are facing delays in getting financial aid offers due to issues with the new FAFSA. The Department of Education is unable to start sending FAFSA information to colleges until March, leading to potential delays in financial aid offers until April.

The delays are causing major concerns for prospective college students and families who rely on financial aid to afford higher education. With 87% of first-time undergrads and 20 million students overall applying for financial aid, the delays could have a significant impact on enrollment decisions and college affordability.

The delays in FAFSA are attributed to various factors, including the implementation of new rules and guidelines for financial aid eligibility. The Education Department, facing substantial workload demands and insufficient resources from Congress, has been struggling to ensure a smooth transition for the 2024-25 FAFSA.

The ripple effects of the FAFSA delays are affecting states and colleges, which have started pushing back their financial aid and admissions deadlines in response to the delayed information. Additionally, some applicants have been experiencing technical issues with the FAFSA, such as parents without Social Security numbers being unable to contribute to or start the application. Despite these challenges, over 3 million FAFSA applications have been submitted.



Read more: FAFSA Delays Will Push Back College Financial Aid Timeline