With national college decision day looming on May 1, delays with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid has many students wondering when they will know how much financial assistance they will receive.
The uncertainty may lead some to delay starting college, while others may continue on their path in hopes FAFSA comes through in time.
Community colleges with longer enrollment windows can offer a safer and affordable opportunity to those who don't want to put off starting their higher education journey.
“We’re seeing quite a bit of anxiety and hesitation among new students to enroll in college now,” said Corrine Case, Admissions director for SUNY Jamestown Community College. “The circumstances aren’t ideal, but thanks to the flexibility of our enrollment deadlines, Jamestown Community College is a great option for students and families who are worried about financial aid coming through in time. There is no cost to apply and students can register for classes as late as August.”
The federal government made changes to the FAFSA application over the last year to simplify the process for students by reducing the questions that are required to complete the form. The application has since experienced glitches, calculation errors, and other setbacks, which have delayed students’ receipt of their financial aid award offers
For many colleges and universities in the U.S., first-year applicants must decide where to enroll by May 1. To compensate for possible snags with the FAFSA process, some colleges are giving students a one-month extension to enroll while others are pushing back their deadlines to May 15.
Community colleges like JCC offer open enrollment and will accept new students right up to the start of classes each semester.
High school seniors trying to choose a college with limited information concerns many higher education leaders. For most students and their families, the college they choose depends on the amount of financial aid awarded through grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and student loans.
"Accessing financial aid was essential in being able to pursue a high-quality education close to home in Western New York,” said JCC student Marissa Snyder. “I was lucky that my older sister went through the FAFSA completion process before me, so I had a better handle on what I needed to do to access support for school.”
Because of this experience, Snyder joined JCC’s State University of New York FAFSA Completion team “to help prospective students complete the application and access the degree programs that will help them turn their passions into lifelong careers."
SUNY launched the FAFSA Completion Corps in 2023. There are nearly 50 SUNY students involved in the initiative across seven SUNY campuses, including JCC.
Mirroring national trends, FAFSA submission rates in New York State are down 24% compared to the same time last year as a result of FAFSA delays. Last year, New York’s high school students left more than $200 million in federal aid unclaimed by not filling out the FAFSA, which is free and opens the door to federal and state aid including Tuition Assistance Program, Excelsior Scholarship, and other college funding awards.
“With the delays we’ve already seen with the FAFSA, we are unable to determine when students will be notified of how much aid they will receive,” Said Elisa Galuppo, JCC’s assistant director of Financial Aid. “Students and families should complete the FAFSA form as soon as possible, if they haven’t already and continue to check emails from studentaid.gov to make any corrections if necessary. JCC prospective students will receive an email from our office when their financial aid award offer is ready.”
Students and families having trouble filling out the FAFSA form are encouraged to seek help from JCC’s FAFSA Completion team. Contacts and more information can be found at sunyjcc.edu/FinancialAid. Those wishing to apply to JCC can do so at sunyjcc.edu/Apply.