For many students nationwide, whether they go to college depends on their financial situation. Thankfully, there are many resources that students can use to cover the heavy cost of tuition. One of these resources is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA), which uses a student’s finances to estimate how much money a student can be granted for college (including loans and grants) from the federal government. Many students depend on the money they receive. This year the FASFA has been delayed for months, causing many students to worry that they will not receive the financial assistance they need.
The Better FASFA is a new design for the financial aid document, with fewer questions that allow students and parents to complete the form in a much shorter time. The new form was rolled out slowly and was often pushed back months later than usual.
“In addition to the delays, the new aid application system has been plagued by bugs that have left some students unable to apply at all. According to news reports and social media posts, parents have encountered websites that don’t load, buttons that don’t work, and various other frustrations as they’ve tried to apply for aid for the next year” (Hyatt).
The new changes to the FASFA were meant to streamline the financial aid process, but it has come with heavy delays. Such delays may affect application decisions not only for Averett students but also for others across the country. Despite these worries, Averett University financial aid staff want to assure students that they will still be able to receive their financial aid.
“There was an overhaul of the system,” Carl Bradsher, the Director of Student Financial Services, said. “That’s why most of the delays came. They changed a lot of the calculations for the FASFA. A lot of testing had to be done, not just testing on the federal government’s side but testing on the services side. But it is up and running now. It’s just like everything else: you have to test it first. I think we are in great shape. Students should go ahead to studentaid.gov and complete the FASFA. They want to complete that by the end of April.”
Averett University has many resources that students can use if they are struggling or worried about their financial aid. Below is a list of links that may be helpful to students looking for more information on the FASFA changes. Students are also encouraged to stop by Averett Central with any financial aid questions.
The FASFA Application Form: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
The Better FASFA: What You Need to Know: https://www.ed.gov/Better-FAFSA
What is the FASFA Simplification Act?: https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/fafsa-simplification-act
FASFA Simplification: https://www.averett.edu/financial-aid/fafsa-simplification/
Averett Financial Aid Services: https://www.averett.edu/financial-aid/financial-services/
Contact Information for Carl Bradsher: [email protected]
Other Sources Used in This Article:
Hyatt, David. “FAFSA Student Aid Timeline Delayed, Complicating College Acceptance Process.” Investopedia, 30 January 2024, https://www.investopedia.com/fafsa-student-aid-timeline-delayed-complicating-college-acceptance-process-8553400#:~:text=The%20delays%20are%20a%20result,students%20eligible%20for%20more%20aid.
