HIGHER ED DIVE
July 10, 2024 Pre-College Outreach
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce recently advanced a bill that would require the U.S. Department of Education to release the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by October 1 each year. This bill was presented to resolve the effects of the delayed FAFSA release that caused postponement in college commitment deadlines, and extended time given for students to complete the FAFSA to qualify for state grant programs. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) expressed concerns about the bill forcing a deadline that does not ensure the proper function of the FAFSA form. In response, an amendment was introduced to the bill that requires the Education Department to confirm a release on September 1. To further track the progress of the FAFSA release timeline, the education secretary would be required to testify before congress to provide updates on the form’s progress.
HIGHER ED DIVE
July 10, 2024 Pre-College Outreach, Enrollment Management Trends
From June 2023 to June 2024, high school students’ FAFSA completion rates have declined by 7.2% representing about 250,000 fewer completions. The decline in high school students’ FAFSA completion rates can be attributed to the delayed release date of and subsequent technical issues with the updated FAFSA form. To help remedy high school student FAFSA completion rates, summer support services were instituted to assist in the navigation process as well as the implementation of a bill that would require the Education Department to release the form each year by October 1.
PBS News Hour
June 25, 2024 Enrollment Management Trends, Research
Over the last 30 years, there has been a drastic decline in the college enrollment of young men, with greater disparities for men of color. A Pew Research study reveals that one million fewer men are enrolled in college compared to 2011. Men generally view college as compelling but are influenced by equally or more desirable options. In addition, the K-12 educational system shows that girls are outperforming boys which has a long-lasting impact on the college enrollment of men. With the higher education institutions implementation of programs that specifically target and support males’ college journey, there is hope for improvement in their enrollment.
Higher Ed. Dive
June 06, 2024 Enrollment Management Trends, Research
The population of U.S. adults under age 65 with some college but no credential reached 36.8 million by July 2022, up 2.9% compared to the year before, according to a new analysis from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. However, over 943,000 adults who stopped out of college reenrolled during the 2022-23 academic year, an increase of 9.1% from the prior year. The clearinghouse’s report offers insight into the sought-after population of students with some college but no credential. Colleges are increasingly looking to attract this pool of learners to help offset an expected decline in the number of traditional-age students, typically considered under age 25.
Inside Higher Ed
April 17, 2024
The Education Department announced a high number of errors and miscalculations in the FAFSA form submissions as compared to previous years, making an already long process longer. The high error rate is due to challenges faced by lower income level students and counselors in navigating the new form design, leading to missing signatures and parental consent pages. Many students encountered operational challenges with the correction portal, further delaying the FAFSA corrections. In response, colleges are attempting to manually adjust calculations to streamline and accelerate the process as deadlines approach.
Inside Higher Ed
March 27, 2024
The budget allocated to the Department of Education by Congress reflects a slight decrease from last year, with some adjustments in funding for various programs. Proposals to double the maximum Pell Grant per student, increase investments for those with low-income backgrounds, and financial aid programs were dismissed. An increase in funding for minority serving institutions was included. Though drastic cuts were not made, necessary increases to minimally account for inflation will continue to be advocated for.
Inside Higher Ed
March 07, 2024
A new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center indicates an increase in the number of transfer students, particularly for historically disadvantaged groups, Black, Hispanic, and rural students. An increase in upward transfers from two-year community colleges to four-year institutions and across gender and age demographics is notable. Institutions have adjusted policies for students to support efficient completion and foster equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students.
Higher Ed Dive
February 29, 2024
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) is urging colleges to address the enrollment challenges due to post pandemic learning loss among K-12 students. Suggestions to analyze assessment results, identify readiness challenges, and provide tutoring support to K-12 schools have been highlighted.
Diverse
February 21, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education recently announced additional steps to facilitate submitting the 2024–25 FAFSA form. To date, it is estimated that nearly 4 million forms have been successfully submitted, with time to complete reduced to as little as 15 minutes. However, given ongoing challenges, the Department of Education is dedicating $50 million in funding for personnel and resources, including technical assistance and support for institutions, students, and families.
Inside Higher Ed
February 01, 2024
Another FAFSA delay has been announced by the Department of Education, and colleges will likely not receive applicant’s federal aid information until March. There are rising concerns among education officials for students dependent on financial aid offers, especially low income and first generation applicants. Universities may be forced to push their usual May 1 student commitment deadlines back to June or July. This delay was attributed to various errors including a calculation oversight not accounting for inflation in the new Student Aid Index.