The 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System — as well as other institutions nationwide — are dealing with an unprecedented delay in students’ ability to apply for federal financial aid.
This delay stems from the largest overhaul in decades to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, and the impact of these delays on lower-income students has caused concern.
To address this, KCTCS President Ryan Quarles has organized a FAFSA Rapid Response Task Force, where KCTCS can rely on its own experts at each of the colleges to come together and develop a quick and significant response.
In a written statement, Quarles said a typical year, defined by March 20 deadlines, usually means KCTCS has already received FAFSA data for 35,000 students. For 2024-25, however, KCTCS has received a little over 7,000 records — just 20% of expected entrants.
In 2023 alone, KCTCS received more than 80,000 FAFSAs, with more than 58,000 of those being Pell Grant eligible.
Quarles said the task force will do the following:
— Develop and implement a communication plan for KCTCS students.
— Provide estimated financial aid notifications for new and returning students.
— Monitor the impact of FAFSA simplification and provide recommendations for strategic enrollment actions.
— And anticipate short-term and long-term implications of aid notification and award delays and provide solutions.
The FAFSA becomes available for students on Oct. 1 each year, allowing students and colleges 10 months to submit and process the financial aid application in advance of the fall semester.
However, for students who planned to enroll in the fall 2024 semester, the FAFSA opened on a limited basis December 31, and problems with submission have plagued families.
Quarles added that the impact of these delays could have on lower-income students “cannot be understated.” Because while students are not at fault for the delay, they are the ones whose lives will be impacted.
For low-income students particularly, the uncertainty about available aid may lead some to delay or forgo college, negatively impacting their lifetime earning potential. At KCTCS, 80% of credential-seeking students received some form of financial aid in 2023.
