NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – The launch date for the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is still not announced.
It’s causing frustration among advocacy groups. The Department of Education normally launches the form in October; however, it’s shooting for a Dec. 1st launch. This comes after last year’s FAFSA debacle with glitches and a rocky rollout.
“Please pay attention to the updates from the Department of Education of when that date will become available,” said Ashley Miller, Old Dominion University’s (ODU) Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management. “And as soon as it is, apply as early as you can.”
Miller also shared a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to the form.
“Do list all the institutions that you’re interested in,” Miller said. “That was a change from the past. But this year that you can list up to 10 institutions. I encourage students to utilize all 10 spaces, even if you don’t go there. Them having your information will streamline the process if you do decide to attend that institution.”
Miller said students should fill out the form every year.
“Sometimes, there is a learning curve for students, that they’ve applied one year and then they don’t realize they have to do it every year because your information can change,” Miller said. And you can be eligible for more money one year depending on that information.”
She also shared one of her biggest don’ts.
“Don’t assume that you won’t qualify for any aid. I think some students make that mistake to think, ‘oh, well my family may be in a different income bracket, therefore I won’t qualify,'” Miller said. “A lot has changed with the formula this year with the FAFSA. So we’re actually seeing a lot more students that are eligible for Pell Aid that weren’t before.”
Miller urges students to ask for help if they have questions.
“If you’re having trouble filling out the FAFSA, you know, you can work with those within your high schools. You can work with those within universities,” Miller said.
According to the Education Aid Initiative, 87.3% of first-year college freshmen acquire some form of financial aid. In addition, students borrow an average of $7,487 per-year for school.
Millers shared how many students receive aid at ODU.
“Overall student population, about 45% of our students get Pell,” Miller said. “Which means that those are high-need students, those are students who need money for their education.”
What should students do if they receive money back from Financial Aid?
“I know students have a lot of other expenses as far as books or living expenses, so obviously you want to put that money towards those items when you need them, but be smart about it and just make sure that you’re using it towards whatever your educational needs are at the time,” Miller said.
What about repaying the loans?
“I would just say for students to to be smart about it, I mean, if they are getting other forms of aid, such as loans, you know, just be mindful that as you leave college and you get that first job opportunity, that those are all things that over time that that you can pay off and hopefully pay off pretty quickly,” Miller said.
Overall, she hopes the process doesn’t bring anxiety.
“Don’t stress,” Miller said. The good news is with the changes to the past, it’s less than 40 questions. It used to be well over 100. They have streamlined a lot of aspects of it that make it easier to fill out.”
