CHARLOTTE, N.C. — College students and soon-to-be college freshmen across the Charlotte area are stressing out as they wait for the federal government to help them figure out how much school will cost.
FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, was revamped this year, causing major delays and barriers to enrollment for many who already cannot afford rising tuition costs.
Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that over 70% of college students receive some form of financial aid, and a majority of the aid received is federal aid.
These delays are hard on so many families -- and the schools are struggling too. So far, there are 30% fewer applications this year than in the past.
The result of this mess could be tons of students who don’t go to college because they can't access the financial aid resources they need.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
Johnny Darling is a senior at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology. He was accepted into his dream school for next year, but because of FAFSA issues, he may not be able to fulfill that dream.
"I want to go there," Darling said. "It's very expensive and I’m not sure how I’m going to pay for it."
Darling is the oldest of four kids and the son of two school teachers.
"I don’t know which school I’m going to choose because I don’t know how much I’m going to get from FAFSA."
"These changes affect everybody who is in college or thinking about it for the upcoming year," Adrienne Amador Oddi, the Vice President of strategic enrollment at Queens University, said.
Students fill out the application and the government processes it and sends it back to the schools that then determine how much financial aid a student is eligible for. But this process is taking much longer since the overhaul, leaving applicants in limbo on their future.
"We typically notify students in November," Amador Oddi said. But this year, she suspects it will be closer to April.
Amador Oddi worries some students won’t go to college this year at all because of this mess.
"I can't even count how many times we’ve been delayed in this process. My biggest concern ... they’ll just give up because they can’t get In and fill out the form."
"It's very stressful," Darling's father, who also goes by Johnny, said. "FAFSA is one of those things where once you know a dollar amount you navigate what else you need to do, and right now with the delay we can’t make a decision on this school or that school."
Allen Davis works with high school seniors as part of Road to Hire, a nonprofit that helps under-represented high school students on the path to corporate jobs.
Davis is working to help students avoid taking out costly long-term loans to pay for school and said the FAFSA delays are making that tough.
"We have learned from many of our folks who have gone through this challenge of financial aid and loans and what that looks like and we understand particularly for families of first-generation college students, that represents a barrier to wealth," Davis said.
Like Amador Oddi, Davis is also worried some students won't make it to college this year because of the delays.
"It’s a real reality for many of our students ... 47% of our students are first gen so they are trying to figure this thing out."
This is the first time this process has had a complete overhaul in 50 years and critics say the government didn’t put enough money or resources into making the change. Once they work out the kinks, it is supposed to make things easier for students and their families.
WCNC Charlotte's Where's The Money series is all about leveling the playing field in the Carolinas by helping others and breaking down barriers. WCNC Charlotte doesn't want our viewers to be taken advantage of, so we’re here to help. Watch previous stories where we ask the question “Where’s the Money” in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.
Contact Michelle Boudin at mboudin@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.