When the U.S. Department of Education rolled out the “Better FAFSA” at the end of last year, the intent was to make the Free Application for Federal Student Aid a simpler process for the millions of college students hoping for financial help for the 2024-25 school year.
But so far, the new FAFSA has created a series of headaches for students, their families and higher education institutions across the country after ongoing technical glitches and delays. And time is running out: Most college decisions come out imminently in late March, with students needing to commit in a month, around May 1.
That’s a $10,000 to $50,000 choice to make — on tuition alone, depending on public vs. private and in-state vs. out-of-state — with many students still unclear about their financial plan for the year, as FAFSA applications also allow students to access state and institutional aid.
“There’s been nothing simple about the FAFSA Simplification Act,” said Kim Frisch, vice president for enrollment management at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. “All around: It is problematic.”
If you’re one of the many dealing with the frustrations from this new system, here is some help on how to persist through the process until you feel ready to head into the next school year with monetary confidence.