photo credit: Mia Harrington
In recent months, the federal student aid program, also known as FAFSA, has been struggling. The website, used by students to help with financial issues regarding schooling, is undergoing many problems. This has negatively impacted many students who are using it to advance their education.
College is as expensive as ever. It is widely known that tuition to the country’s top universities can cost a lot. Many are experiencing debt due to these high costs, with 43.4 million Americans having federal student loan debt, according to BestColleges. To aid students who are struggling with this issue, FAFSA provides financial aid to students so they can pay for their education. Students can take out loans to help with their education. This aid includes grants, scholarships, work-study funds and loans.
In 2020, the US Department of Education began an overhaul of FAFSA, according to Forbes. Because of the major change in technology, issues are expected. The website requires updates, and these updates are taking a lot of time. The implementation date was originally slated for the 2023-24 school year, but it has been pushed forward to the 2024-25 school year. FAFSA is a key financial document and must be submitted on time. This delay has impacted many students and may change the way students go through the long process of applying to college.
“FAFSA is important because it allows students to take out loans, making college more affordable and giving aid to those that need it,” senior Mason Herubin said.
The program helps many students with the financial burdens that come with education. It is especially helpful to students with low-income families. FAFSA has been used for quite some time, but nowadays, the technological problems the program is dealing with could endanger its future, and as a result of that, the future of many students. When the FAFSA Simplification Act was signed, its goal was to change the nature of FAFSA, expanding eligibility to consider family size and poverty levels. The program gives different levels of aid to students based on the mentioned metrics. To apply for FAFSA, all students must fill out a form.
“Filling out the FAFSA form was simple and quick,” senior Alex Hertzfeld said. “It mostly just asked about you and your family’s economic and schooling situation.”
However, despite these new changes, there have been significant disruptions to FAFSA. The FAFSA website has also had its share of errors, impacting the accessibility and efficiency of the program. These troubles have impacted students the most. With so many trying to apply for the program, errors on the website affect millions.
“I found it bothersome that the FAFSA deadline was so late because it was the only thing incomplete when I was turning in my early decision applications,” Herubin said.
But for some, the issues with the FAFSA website have had inadvertent positive effects.
“It allows me to focus on college applications and then the FAFSA,” Hertzfeld said.
All over the country, the recent issues with FAFSA have troubled students. For some, a financial aid deal can make or break a choice on college. FAFSA can be the gateway to a better future. As of now, the problems have yet to be solved. Perhaps the breakthrough will come soon, but until that day, millions of students will be told to wait and see.
