Federal program aims to increase FAFSA applications with multi-million dollar aid initiative

The U.S. Department of Education has announced a $50 million grant program to address the record low number of completed federal financial aid applications, particularly the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This initiative comes in response to the bureaucratic nightmare that has plagued students and schools since the recent overhaul of the FAFSA.

The delay in processing FAFSA applications has left many students without full financial aid offers, causing distress for families and jeopardizing college enrollment rates. The Department of Education aims to close the FAFSA completion gap by providing funding to support states, districts, and community-based groups in helping students complete their forms.

Despite the challenges faced by students applying for college this fall, the new FAFSA Student Support Strategy is expected to provide relief for future applicants. The grant program will be implemented by the Educational Credit Management Corporation and will focus on increasing FAFSA submissions through various support services.

The announcement of the grant program follows a congressional hearing titled “FAFSA Fail,” where concerns were raised about the impact of the aid application issues on college enrollment rates. The Department of Education emphasized the importance of prioritizing organizations with existing ties to students and families to help decrease barriers to FAFSA completion.

With nearly 9 million applications successfully submitted since the new FAFSA forms were launched, the Department of Education is committed to supporting students and families in navigating the financial aid process. The grant program will provide additional resources to schools and organizations to ensure that every student has the opportunity to access the financial aid they need for college.