Georgia Colleges Hustle After Federal Delay Slows Financial Aid Process
By Vanessa McCray, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It may take a bit longer than usual for some students to get financial aid offers from Georgia colleges.
That’s because the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which typically opens Oct. 1, didn’t launch until Dec. 30 due to an application redesign intended to streamline the form and make more low-income students, including an additional 16,463 in Georgia, eligible for federal Pell Grants.
The holdup frustrated families trying to complete the form during the winter break and prompted some schools to warn it will take longer to notify students of how much financial help they stand to receive for the 2024-2025 year. That information is vital for many high school seniors to decide which college they’ll attend and for returning college students who must submit the form each year to continue receiving federal student aid.