A government watchdog group found four million out of 5.4 million call center inquiries went unanswered during the first five months of the rollout, among other mistakes.
The Office of Federal Student Aid plans to implement a phased rollout beginning Oct. 1 to resolve any system errors. However, some stakeholders are airing their concerns.
Universities are receiving fewer FAFSA submitters and looking at smaller enrollment numbers than last year due to this year's federal aid delays. Small- to mid-sized private colleges recuperating from the pandemic have another steep hill to climb.
At Antioch, we are doing our part to deliver the core promise of American higher education. Members of Congress and the Department of Education must return the favor.
College Possible, a nonprofit dedicated to servicing low-income and minority students through their higher education journey, has so far ensured that 56% of their students have filed for FAFSA, says CEO Siva Kumari.
Of 358 college and university leaders surveyed by ACE, 67% said they had little to no confidence they'd successfully process forms in the coming weeks.
Not only could the headaches affect the number of students applying to one's institution, but they can also hurt the retention of one's first-generation students.
Nearly 57% fewer high school seniors have submitted a new FAFSA form compared to last year's numbers. Could delays and technological errors be to blame?
The Education Department implemented a "soft launch" of the form on its website last week, but glitches, crashes, and extremely limited available windows have bled past its official launch date and into the new year, and it's yet unclear how long they will last.
