COLUMBUS, Ohio — Federal aid for students is expected to come back online on Dec. 1, coming roughly a year after massive issues with FAFSA applications.
“There were processing delays, that was number one,” said Marie Holloway, the interim director at Columbus State Community College’s Student Central. “Students and families ran into some issues with filling out the application, with submitting documentation.”
At CSCC, the delays did not impact enrollment in the fall semester. A spokesperson for the community college told Consumer 10 new student population went up 3.7% over the last year. All student enrollments went up 5%.
In 2024, there was a 2.1% enrollment increase in Ohio, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The same research says freshman enrollment across the country dropped by 5%.
“Well over half of our students rely on federal student aid,” said Holloway. “We have some hurdles right now that we're working through and that federal student aid is working through, but the end game is more financial aid for more students, and several of our students did see an increase in the aid that they were eligible for. And some students who weren't eligible for aid before were eligible this year.”
Holloway recommends families gather documentation and submit FAFSA as soon as it opens and call the school’s financial aid staff for more information.
According to the FAFSA website, you can apply for federal aid even before you apply to colleges.