The new FAFSA form, which enables individuals to finance their college education, has taken a giant leap forward by becoming accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The new FAFSA form, which enables individuals to finance their college education, has taken a giant leap forward by becoming accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The U.S. Department of Education has reported that more than one million applications have flooded in through the revamped 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the official gateway for federal student aid.
The new FAFSA form, which enables individuals to finance their college education, has taken a giant leap forward by becoming accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as reported by Erudera.com.
Better FAFSA
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona expressed enthusiasm about the remarkable response, emphasizing that the surge in applications underscored the department’s commitment to streamlining and simplifying the financial aid application process.
He referred to the updated form as the “Better FAFSA” and highlighted the ease with which over a million students and families completed it during the soft launch period.
Cardona underscored the broader goals of the Better FAFSA, stating that its user-friendly features aim to make the financial aid application process more accessible, particularly benefiting approximately 610,000 students from low-income families who will now be eligible for Pell Grants.
The 2024-25 FAFSA form officially launched on Dec. 30, 2023, with intermittent access periods for students and families.
The department closely monitored the website’s performance, addressing issues in real-time and pausing for maintenance and updates to enhance the overall experience.
Going forward, the form will remain accessible at all times, barring regular maintenance for the FAFSA cycle.
Ongoing support, positive feedback
Richard Cordray, the Federal Student Aid chief, shared positive feedback from students and families, emphasizing the improved user experience of the new FAFSA form.
Cordray also assured continuous communication with students, families, and educational institutions to guide them in accessing the maximum available support for pursuing higher education.
With a focus on planning for the upcoming school year, Cordray urged individuals to complete the FAFSA form to apply for various student aid options, including federal grants, work-study funds, and loans.
The unprecedented response to the 2024-25 FAFSA form reflects a significant step towards making higher education more accessible and financially viable for a broader spectrum of students and families.
Int’l student enrollment
During the 2022-2023 academic year, the United States experienced a significant 12 percent increase in international student enrollment, surpassing one million students—an unparalleled growth rate in over four decades, as per the Open Doors 2023 Report, jointly released by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education.
Comprising six percent of the total U.S. higher education population, international students contributed nearly $38 billion to the U.S. economy. New international student enrollments for the academic year reached a near-record level, surging by 14 percent year-over-year to 298,523 students, exceeding pre-pandemic figures.
This growth was widespread across all U.S. states and territories, with 48 states reporting an increase in international student numbers.
Notably, China and India remained the top-sending countries, while other nations also experienced significant increases.
The Open Doors report also indicated a rebound in U.S. international study programs, surpassing halfway pre-pandemic levels in the 2021-22 academic year. Popular destinations included Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France, with U.S. institutions expecting continued growth in study-abroad numbers for the 2022-23 academic year and beyond.
For the Fall 2023 semester, U.S. higher education institutions reported an eight percent increase in international students across all academic levels and Optional Practical Training. India remains a top priority for undergraduate and graduate recruitment.
