Universities of Wisconsin Fall Enrollment Likely Negatively Impacted By Delayed Rollout of FAFSA

Sunday, June 9th, 2024 -- 6:04 AM

(Margaret Faust, Wisconsin Public Radio) -Fall enrollment at the Universities of Wisconsin will likely be negatively impacted by the delayed rollout of a federal financial aid form, according to Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman.

At a UW Board of Regents meeting Thursday, Rothman critiqued how the redesigned form delayed universities’ abilities to send out financial aid offers to students. “It is widely considered to have been an unmitigated disaster,” Rothman said. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, determines how much financial aid a student can receive. The form affects scholarships, grants, student loans and work-study opportunities. The form got a revamp this year, but it was released three months behind schedule with technical problems, some of which have yet to be resolved. Colleges and universities didn’t receive student financial aid information until the middle of March, delaying the distribution of financial aid offers. Some financial aid offices are still playing catch up. Wisconsin’s FAFSA completion rate has increased over the past several months.

Still, the latest data from the National College Attainment Network shows more than 4,400 fewer Wisconsin seniors have completed the form compared to last academic year. That’s a decrease of nearly 14 percent. FAFSA completion rates fell more among schools with a greater share of students of color, English Learners and economically disadvantaged students, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum. “The ramifications of this are potentially significant. This is not just a delay. This could make the difference between whether or not somebody who ultimately goes to school or doesn’t,” Rothman said. Rothman said the exact consequences on fall enrollment are unclear. “One thing is certain, it is not going to be positive,” Rothman said.

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