"A new, simplified version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, will debut sometime in December, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed Tuesday," Higher Ed Dive reports. 

... "Several higher education organizations, including the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, or NASFAA, had pressed the Education Department to define exactly when it would release the new FAFSA. They said states, colleges and access groups would need time to 'make significant adjustments to their systems and processes based on the FAFSA release date.'"

"NASFAA President Justin Draeger in a statement praised the Education Department for committing to a date by which it will release the FAFSA."

"He said the higher education world is preparing for 'once-in-a-lifetime changes to how students apply for and receive financial aid.'"

"'While these myriad improvements may go unnoticed by those who don’t work directly with students, there are a number of behind the scenes updates to systems and processes that are absolutely critical to a smooth transition,” Draeger said. “We know Federal Student Aid understands the importance of this process and we are pleased they are providing the resources and training necessary for the student aid and college access professionals to fully implement these changes.'"

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 3/22/2023