When the new FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, finally rolled out at the end of December, parents and students scrambled — and so did colleges all over the country.
Usually, the FAFSA is available on Oct. 1, and students who apply right away know by November how much financial aid they can expect. This, in turn, helps them make a college decision, which helps colleges know how many students to expect in the coming academic year.
The three-month delay turned all of that upside down, so at the University of Lynchburg, admissions and financial aid counselors pivoted quickly.
They ramped up phone calls and text messages, reassuring families that everyone was going through the same thing — frozen websites, delayed forms, and that big, fat question mark about how much financial aid their student would receive.
After the late-2023 launch, a string of technical issues further delayed form submissions to colleges. FAFSA officials now estimate that they will be able to send submitted applications to colleges and states “in the first half of March.”
Given the delay, Lynchburg hopes to package financial aid in early April — about five months later than usual. In the meantime, the University has created its own way of getting students an estimated financial aid award so they aren’t “stuck waiting on the government,” said Maggie Flynn, director of admissions.
“We encourage students to use our estimator options so they can feel confident in making a decision early on and have that weight taken off their shoulders, but we have always and will continue to work with students who need extra time or support prior to making a decision.
“We’ve always given students and families the flexibility and support they need to make their college decision.”
Another big perk this year to offset the wait: The enrollment deposit will be refundable until the start of classes in August.
While applicants wait for their FAFSA submissions, they also can visit campus, as many did during Discovery Weekend March 1-2.
“We had a great outcome,” Flynn said of the overnight open house. “Families had so much fun exploring campus and getting to know our faculty, students, and staff.”
Upcoming admissions events include FAFSA workshops on March 20 and April 4 and Admitted Student Days on March 23 and April 27, as well as another Discovery Weekend on April 12-13.
For information about events or admission, email admissions@lynchburg.edu or call 434.544.8300. For help with the FAFSA and other financial aid questions, email financialaid@lynchburg.edu or call 800.426.8101.
