The tumultuous rollout of the redesigned FAFSA has turned the 2024 admissions cycle into a challenging landscape for students and institutions alike. Despite significant efforts to resolve major issues with the form, the lingering repercussions continue to affect applicants. As the conclusion of the 2024-25 award year's application period nears, it is imperative for the Department of Education and Congress to focus on preventing similar disruptions in the 2025-26 cycle. Immediate measures are essential to ensure a smoother and more efficient process for future applicants.
Along with 35 other higher education associations, ACE sent a letter to the House and Senate education committees last week, urging lawmakers to undertake a long-term assessment of the FAFSA delays' impact on students—particularly low-income students—and institutions.
The groups also called for safeguards to prevent future problems and adjustments to ensure certain categories of students receive the aid they need. They requested that the assessment be made publicly available, along with a comprehensive analysis of how the need-analysis formula changes affect student aid eligibility.
The associations asked Congress to mandate that the FAFSA be available for completion by Oct. 1 of each year, a critical change that would go a long way to preventing the frustration experienced by students, parents, and counselors this year.
The Higher Education Act currently allows a Jan. 1 deadline for release, and given that permission, ED did not release the new form until late on Dec. 30, 2023, with limited accessibility. The department's inability to make a firm commitment to an Oct. 1 release for the 2025-26 FAFSA further emphasizes the urgency of this action.
The groups hope Congress will act swiftly to implement these changes and ensure the FAFSA process remains efficient and effective for all students. Read the letter and the full list of recommendations here.
For more details on the timeline of FAFSA delays and further information, please visit ACE's timeline.