College students will still see some delays in FAFSA this year

By Ashley Luthans

Financial aid can be crucial for college students, and many benefit from Free Application for Federal Student Aid. However, there were some delays last year that are expected to continue this year.

Taylea Luedke, a freshman at Missouri Western State University, said that she dealt with last year’s delays, explaining that it was stressful for her and her family.

“I don’t think I had heard anything from my FAFSA until like, maybe like, late July,” Luedke said. “So, it was kind of stressful for my parents just because they’re helping me pay off whatever else I have to owe for college. So, they were always asking, like, ‘Have you heard anything?’ and I’d always check, and they’d check and there’d just be like nothing there.”

Kaitlyn Venta, the director of affordability at the Missouri College and Career Attainment Network, said delays are expected again this year, but hopefully things will run smoother than last year.

“So Federal Student Aid has said that the form will be open and fully functional for everyone Dec. 1,” Venta said. “They’re gonna do some testing with select groups of students between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1 to try to get those last bugs and problems out. But as of the end of August, they are saying Dec. 1 the FAFSA will be open, processing, fully functional by Dec. 1. So a delay, not as much as the delay last year, and we’re hopeful that everything will go smoother this year once it is open.”

Venta said that it is important for students to get their Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID in advance so it is easier to fill out their FAFSA forms when the time comes.

“Everyone needs a unique FSA ID,” Venta said. “It’s tied to your Social Security number, so you can’t have one FSA ID for the family. That’s something that families need to do this fall, is having students and parents create their FSA ID.”

Venta went on to explain what is needed in order to set up a FSA ID.

“You need your email address, one that you have permanent access to, your date of birth and your Social Security number,” Venta said.

Luedke said she knows what to expect when filling out her FAFSA this year.

“I do think it will be easier,” Luedke said. “Now I’ll know there will be delays, so I’ll be expecting it and knowing that like, okay, it’s probably not gonna be here for a while because there are going to be a bunch of new students enrolling into the FAFSA as well.”