AAMC Joins Letter Supporting Bill to Codify Annual Release of FAFSA

The AAMC joined a Nov. 12 letter with 42 higher education organizations in support of the FAFSA Deadline Act(PDF)(H.R. 8932). This bill would move the statutory date for the annual release of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from Jan. 1 to Oct. 1 each year. The Department of Education announced in January significant delays in the processing of financial aid information that is typically used to determine need-based aid for students [refer to Washington Highlights, Feb. 2]. This bill aims to ensure that students and families completing the FAFSA have a reasonable period of time to consider financial aid options.

"Completing the FAFSA is a crucial first step to ensuring increased access to a more affordable postsecondary education. It is our duty to give our students and their families the proper amount of time to decide the best next step for them and the FAFSA Deadline Act will do just that by codifying an Oct. 1 deadline for the release of the FAFSA."