Check out these headlines.
“Experts Fear ‘Catastrophic’ College Declines Thanks to Botched FAFSA Rollout”
– US News & World Report[1]
“FAFSA glitches and delays leave students, states, institutions in limbo”
– The Washington Post[2]
“What the heck is happening with college financial aid this year?”
– CNN[3]
“FAFSA applications drop by 40% as U.S. struggles to fix botched college aid rollout.” – The Columbus Dispatch[4]
“Leader of Federal Student Aid Office Steps Down After College Admissions Crisis”
– The New York Times[5]
These headlines, and hundreds of others, were published last spring, after the Department of Education’s “botched” rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Unfortunately, we may be seeing more headlines like these coming our way, once again.
You see, higher education is having a difficult enough time as it is when it comes to new student enrollments and student retention, and the federal financial aid system has been no help. In fact, FAFSA has been quite a hindrance.
Now, for the second straight year, the Department of Education’s FAFSA rollout will once again be delayed…
Potentially “botched” as it was last year.
As you recall, in late 2023, FAFSA delayed its launch from October to December… two months.
But unfortunately, we know how well that timeline “adjustment” went.
Will history repeat itself?
On August 7, the U.S. Dept. of Education announced the upcoming FAFSA form will be open to all students by December 1, roughly two months later than its typical release date.
Two months. Sound familiar?
Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona said of the late rollout, “Following a challenging 2024-25 FAFSA cycle, the Department listened carefully to the input of students, families, and higher education institutions, made substantial changes to leadership and operations at Federal Student Aid, and is taking a new approach this year that will significantly improve the FAFSA experience.”[6]
Of course, we all hope this is the case, but delaying the rollout by two months (hopefully that’s all) does not instill much confidence in either students or institutions.
Especially since the Dept. of Ed had a year to address the issue.
This is why it’s of the utmost importance for colleges and universities (especially those that operate primarily online institutions) to get to work immediately…
Get to work on both new student enrollment initiatives and on the nurturing of potential new students to help them navigate the emotional process of obtaining financial aid.
Now, while institutions may have little or no control over how the next FAFSA rollout goes, they do have control over their new student enrollment initiatives.
And they do have control over who they partner with to help accelerate those initiatives.
Conversion Media Group is a national leader in new student enrollment initiatives, and your partner for success.
See how Conversion Media Group can help you increase enrollments in your school by simply visiting us HERE.
Or feel free to call +1 800.419.3201 to speak directly with our expert staff.
New student outreach and online college enrollment initiatives are our expertise.
[1] Experts Fear ‘Catastrophic’ College Declines Thanks to Botched FAFSA Rollout (usnews.com)
[2] FAFSA setbacks leave colleges, students and others reeling – The Washington Post
[3] FAFSA: What’s happening with 2024 college financial aid? | CNN Politics
[4] FAFSA applications decline as nation struggles to fix issues (dispatch.com)
[5] Leader of Federal Student Aid Office Steps Down After FAFSA Crisis – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
[6] FAFSA forms delayed again after last year’s shaky rollout of revamped applications (thehill.com)