As a means of determining student financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has long been a crucial lifeline and beacon of hope for current and prospective students pursuing their higher education dreams.
For more than 17 million students, the FAFSA is the key to unlocking government dollars to help cover the cost of college since it determines eligibility for federal Pell Grants and federal student loans, and in most cases, the financial aid provided by colleges as well. For Pennsylvania students, it is also a requirement to apply for the PA State Grant Program.
There is already a robust societal debate about the affordability of higher education, and recent delays in processing FAFSA applications exacerbate the challenge, leaving students and families uncertain as to how to cover the costs of their education. Besides the obvious financial strain, the ripple effect of this untenable situation stands to disrupt many other aspects of students’ lives, from their academic progress to their mental health.