As high school seniors complete their final months before walking the stage, delays in applying for financial aid are leaving many in the dark about which college they will attend in the fall semester.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education delayed the annual start of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from October to December in an effort to make the application process more efficient and stress-free.
But the application has become a headache as millions of applications are delayed in being awarded to students' universities. This helps determine the amount of financial aid a student needs.
“Students who are unsure of their financial aid eligibility and are unable to make an informed decision about their college choice,” said Christy Miller, executive director of Wayland Baptist University's Office of Financial Aid. I have a lot of family,” he said.
The Department of Education announced earlier this month that an “unforced error” resulted in approximately 200,000 students' FAFSA miscalculations, causing further delays for students.
“Throughout this process, we didn't have a clear date from the U.S. Department of Education, first the FAFSA release date and now the (Institutional Student Information Record) release date, so we had a hard time maintaining student interest. It was a struggle,” Miller said.
Amid heightened uncertainty, here's what local universities have to say about how they're helping students navigate these unprecedented times.
20,000 Texas Tech Freshmen Affected by FAFSA Delays
Texas Tech University faces the challenges ahead as the region's largest institution of higher education, enrolling more than 40,000 students each fall semester.
Mary Booker, assistant vice president for financial aid and scholarships at Texas Tech University, said the university has extended the deadline for admissions decisions to June 1.
“We don't know when the FAFSA will be approved. (The federal government) will actually start making smaller releases this week,” Booker said. “Here he's got seven, over there he's got 10, but that's nothing compared to his 20,000 students who are looking at Tech.”
Booker said colleges hope to have the majority of FAFSAs filed by the end of this month, but this does not take into account rejected ISERs or miscalculations, leading to further delays for students. .
“We're here as an organization to support them through that process,” Booker said. “We want to make sure they get the best care possible, so we encourage them to move forward with their enrollment plans and not put them off.”
Students may contact TTU's Financial Aid Office at 806-742-3681 or email finaid.advisor@ttu.edu.
FAFSA delays hurt Lubbock Christian University
“FAFSA delays are having a negative impact on families with college-bound students applying and selecting colleges, and Lubbock Christian University has made adjustments to help these families navigate the process,” LCU said. said Jody Redding, vice president for enrollment management.
Redding said the university's phased admissions process allows students to accept offers of admission after May 1.
Scholarships such as LCU's West Texas Promise and LCU Guarantee do not have a deadline for eligible students.
“To maximize scholarship opportunities for new students, all new students who submit a completed FAFSA and enroll full-time will be eligible for additional institutional scholarships,” Redding said. . “We are here to work with our families to navigate the new FAFSA process.”
Students may contact LCU's Financial Aid Office at 806-720-7176 or Financial.Assist@LCU.edu.
Wayland Baptist University under pressure over FAFSA delays
Weiland said there is no deadline for students to decide whether to attend college. However, that doesn't mean FAFSA delays aren't having an impact.
“However, we are feeling pressure from students considering schools whose May 1 confirmation deadline has not been extended,” Miller said. “They feel a sense of urgency to make a decision, but they don’t have all the information about financial aid eligibility.”
Miller also said that while the university continues to send students affected by FAFSA delays back home on a case-by-case basis, most students will continue to do so in line with the “current status” when they decide to return for the fall semester. He said he was taking action.
Students with further questions or concerns should contact the University's Financial Aid Office in Plainview at 806-291-3520 or finaidhelp@wbu.edu.
University of the South Plains recognizes normalcy despite FAFSA delays
More than 50% of South Plains University's students rely on federal funding such as Pell Grants, but SPC Vice President for Student Affairs Stan Demerit said the university is experiencing significant impacts from the FAFSA delay. said it had not been seen.
“We believe that the FAFSA delays delayed our ability to inform students of the amount of aid they would receive if they attended,” DeMerritt said. “But there is no practical impact on the time to decision.”
As a community college, SPC has a different student population than a university, Demeritt said.
“Typically, community colleges don't receive many applications or admissions until near the end of the spring semester. This is primarily for students who aren't sure what we want to do or what they want to do. “It's because of the fact that they're in the field that they want to go into,'' Demerit said.
Students are directed to call the Financial Aid Office at (806) 716-2100 or email finaid@southplainscollege.edu.
