Important update about the FAFSA

2/16/2024

As graduating seniors and their families plan for what’s next following high school graduation, it’s important they have as much information as possible when choosing the best pathway forward. One of the ways families prepare for this decision is through the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA.  
 
The U.S. Department of Education has been overhauling the FAFSA system, which has contributed to several delays for when financial assistance data is available for applicants, school districts, and institutions of higher education. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce wants to make sure schools have as much information as possible about the delays being added to the timeline.    
 
As a result of these changes, a truncated window will create additional challenges for high school staff, students, and families. This latest update to the standard FAFSA timeline leaves as little as two weeks for college access advisors and high school counselors to support their entire caseload of students and evaluate financial aid offers in advance of the traditional May 1 commitment deadlines from colleges. 
 
Regardless of a student’s intentions following graduation, it remains important for them to complete the FAFSA. As of the end of last month, Federal Student Aid shared that approximately 3.1 million FAFSA forms have been submitted nationally. This time last year, more than 17 million FAFSA forms were submitted. 
 
The State of Ohio is in the process of communicating with all Ohio colleges and universities, requesting that they consider extending application and acceptance deadlines to provide students the opportunity to make informed choices for their entry into higher education.