Tip of the Week

If you ever wondered how making something easy can be really difficult, then look no further than the 2024-25 FAFSA.

While the new process in theory may be easier, the problem is there are, in reality, a lot of moving parts necessary to make the financial aid application work.

Unfortunately for a lot of families, they experienced this firsthand. According to Sallie Mae’s “2024, How America Pays for College” report, few families found the new application easier. Among families, who completed both the 2023-24 and the 2024-25 FAFSA, just 29 percent found the “better FAFSA” easier to complete.

There’s no question that the Department of Education had a challenge on its hands to simplify a form that must comply with certain laws and regulations and relies on protected data.

With all that in mind though, the challenge now is making the 2025-26 FAFSA, due out on December 1, a better experience for students and families. Perhaps some of the glitches can be blamed for the poor survey results. However, while many glitches have been fixed, we know that there are still some students and families experiencing issues.

Hopefully, some of the feedback the Department receives in the 2025-26 testing period, which was partially announced just yesterday, will be instrumental in improving the FAFSA experience for future applicants. Community-based organizations (CBOs) can submit an interest form. Institutions of higher education that want to participate in this first testing period should partner with a CBO.

Financial aid is complicated enough for students and families to understand. Completing an application should be easy.

– By Catherine Mueller