FAFSA issues lead to delays on college decision day – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic

High school seniors across the country are facing uncertainty as they wait for delayed financial aid award letters, causing many to be stuck in limbo on college decision day. The issues stem from problems with this year’s FAFSA, which was revamped by the Department of Education late last year to simplify the form and expand eligibility for financial aid.

Typically, colleges deliver financial aid award letters in March, but this year, many schools did not receive the necessary FAFSA data until March, leading to major delays and errors in processing. As a result, hundreds of schools have extended their enrollment deadlines, but not all have, leaving some students to make decisions without knowing the full cost of college.

Criticism has been directed at the Department of Education for the botched rollout of the new FAFSA, prompting an investigation by the Government Accountability Office. The head of the Federal Student Aid office, Richard Cordray, announced he will step down soon, adding to the turmoil surrounding financial aid processing.

Despite the challenges, the Department of Education stated that FAFSAs are now being processed quickly and accurately, with all forms reprocessed and sent to colleges without errors. However, as of late April, only about half of colleges had sent aid packages to students, raising concerns about students missing out on financial aid opportunities.

Overall, FAFSA completions among high school seniors are down 29%, with larger declines among lower-income and minority students. This has sparked fears that some students may opt out of college altogether due to financial uncertainties. Despite the problems with the new FAFSA, it is estimated that more students will qualify for federal Pell Grants, providing additional financial support to those in need.