FAFSA applications dipped in California. Here’s what to do if you still need money for school

Following glitches and delays with the new federal application for financial aid, known as FAFSA, student applications across California have dropped by 6%, according to a spokesperson for the state’s student aid commission.

It’s a significant change from last year and experts say it could mean that tens of thousands of students may not be able to afford college. For decades, FAFSA has been an essential stepping stone for students, allowing many to secure federal financial aid and pursue a postsecondary education.

The details of what happened

The commission, which oversees grants and scholarships, told LAist it has received 105,948 fewer applications compared to last year.

Yvonne Gutierrez-Sandoval, dean of enrollment services at Long Beach City College, said the drop is alarming.

Completing these applications is “crucial,” she said. The U.S. Department of Education uses this information to determine how much federal aid students are eligible to receive. Then, colleges and state agencies use this data to offer regional financial support. By filling out the FAFSA, students unlock the door to grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study opportunities. For some, these financial aid packages determine where — or even if — they’ll pursue a college education.

To make sure new and returning college students get the financial aid they need, the California Student Aid Commission will continue its outreach efforts this summer, according to Shelveen Ratnam, a spokesperson with the state agency. So will campuses across L.A. County.

The backstory on the problems

The U.S. Department of Education launched the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid — also called FAFSA — on Dec. 31, 2023, months after its traditional release date each fall. The department promised to make it easier for students to get financial aid. These efforts included reducing the number of questions on the application and expanding eligibility for federal Pell Grants.

For some students, the FAFSA revamp did prove easy to navigate, but many students experienced moments of deep frustration.

Students who are U.S. citizens, but whose parents are not, had an especially tough time with the new federal form. When parents without Social Security numbers tried to fill out the application on behalf of their children, they got an error message that blocked them from continuing.

In California, students who need help paying for college have two options: If they’re U.S. citizens, they can complete the FAFSA. Undocumented students, DACA recipients, U Visa holders, and students with Temporary Protected Status fill out the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) to access state-funded support.

To make sure students don’t miss out on state and campus-based financial aid, in April, the California Student Aid Commission offered CADAA as an alternative for U.S. citizens whose parents don’t have a Social Security number.

In an email bulletin last week, the state agency’s former executive director Marlene Garcia, who retired at the end of June, said “more than 3,000 applicants from mixed-status families have utilized CADAA.”

Ratnam said he’s worried about the drop in FAFSA applications in California, but heartened that it’s not as steep as other states. FAFSA completion has dropped nationwide. Among Wisconsin’s high school seniors, for example, it fell by 27%.

Ratnam believes California’s drop “may not be as severe” thanks to AB 469, the recently-implemented universal completion law, which requires all high school seniors to submit a financial aid application or formally opt out.

The state law, he said, triggered “an all-hands-on-deck approach, especially this year, given that we had a new FAFSA and there were a lot of technical difficulties.”

The commission partnered with high school counselors, student groups, colleges, and community organizations throughout California. Together, they hosted thousands of “Cash for College” workshops touting one-on-one help completing the FAFSA or CADAA.

That work will continue, Ratnam said. The commission will also soon launch a new campaign to persuade more students to apply.

What to do if you missed the FAFSA deadline

California high school seniors who intend to go to a four-year university had until May 2 to submit a FAFSA or CADAA in order to meet the deadline for state financial aid programs, including the Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship.

If you missed that deadline, you can appeal for Cal Grant consideration by submitting this form.

If you want to attend community college, you still have time to apply. The deadline is Sept. 3, 2024.

To help students who are struggling with their application, the California Student Aid Commission will host webinars throughout the summer. In L.A. County, some community colleges are also offering hands-on workshops in their computer labs, including Long Beach City College and Santa Monica College.

“We don't want [students] to sit in any type of confusion,” said Tracie Hunter, Santa Monica College’s associate dean of financial aid and scholarships. She stressed that help is available to new and returning students.

“We're encouraging students to bring their social security numbers [and] tax documents,” added Gutierrez-Sandoval, with Long Beach City College. “We have financial aid professionals on hand to walk them through [the process].” This includes sharing possible workarounds if they encounter any of the FAFSA’s open issues.

Cerritos College, Pasadena City College, and Santa Monica College also provide ongoing one-on-one financial aid support.

In an email, David Hull, Pasadena City College’s director of financial aid, said his office has an open-door policy. “Anyone that comes by with questions about their aid application can sit down same-day with an advisor,” he said.

Beyond these efforts, college access advocates are also calling on the U.S. Department of Education to help them avoid another fiasco with next year’s FAFSA applications. In June, 25 organizations representing counselors, college administrators, and other stakeholders wrote to Secretary Miguel Cardona, asking the administration to commit to the traditional FAFSA launch date of Oct. 1, 2024.

Another delayed FAFSA release, they wrote, “would have disastrous impacts on students.”