FAFSA Coverage

FAFSA frustrations mount for incoming students, families needing aid

Students can now make corrections to their applications, things like missed signatures or consent from parents. That change started this week.

Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

FAFSA delays leave families, students with questions as deadlines loom

High School seniors are scrambling to meet college deadlines as FAFSA delays and glitches are complicating the process.

A new FAFSA problem could keep families waiting longer for financial aid awards

Washington (CNN) -- The Department of Education has found another problem impacting some college financial aid forms that could further delay students' aid awards, leaving them in limbo as they decide where to enroll next year.

By Katie Lobosco, CNN

FAFSA delays put financial aid information, college decisions in limbo

About eight out of every 10 students in North Carolina receive some sort of federal financial assistance.

College decisions delayed while financial aid sits in limbo amid FAFSA fiasco

About 8 out of every 10 college students in the state receive some sort of federal financial assistance.

Ali Ingersoll, WRAL investigative data reporter

Financial aid info could come later, making student college decisions difficutl

Typically, students receive financial aid award letters from schools in March and are expected to commit to a college by May 1. But now that timeline is in jeopardy.

FAFSA data delays mean students wait longer to learn if they get financial aid

Colleges won't start receiving students' financial aid data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, until the first half of March - more than a month later than expected.

By Katie Lobosco, CNN

Department of Education makes another fix to the FAFSA, unlocking an additional $1.8 billion in financial aid

Washington (CNN) -- The Department of Education said this week that it is making an additional adjustment to this year's Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, that will make $1.8 billion more available in financial aid.

By Katie Lobosco, CNN

Why families applying for financial aid may initially have trouble with the new FAFSA

Washington (CNN) -- A long-awaited update to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA, was released on December 30. But some families are having trouble accessing the online form, which has so far only been available for short periods of time.

By Katie Lobosco, CNN

A New FAFSA Form Is Coming, Along With Changes in College Aid

A long-awaited, supposedly user-friendly version of the college financial aid form known as the FAFSA will be unveiled for the 2024-25 school year.

Ann Carrns, New York Times

NC educators work to increase FAFSA completion

North Carolinians are leaving millions of dollars on the table each year when it comes to paying for college.

Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporter

Big week for applying to colleges, for financial aid in NC

Cris Charbonneau, director of advocacy and engagement for MyFutureNC, an education nonprofit, discusses the importance of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - the FAFSA - as soon as possible to qualify for as much college financial aid as possible.

Two big chances for college-bound families to save money

Parents of college-bound students can take advantage of two opportunities this week to save some money.

Kathy Hanrahan, WRAL lifestyle editor

FAFSA: Billions of federal aid dollars available for college students starting today

Current and prospective college students are able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid starting on Friday. The federal government has $150 billion each year available for college students, all they have to do is apply for their fair share.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

Fewer families apply as FAFSA college aid deadline approaches

June 30 is the deadline to apply for family aid for college.

FAFSA completions down among NC high school seniors, but turnaround efforts ramp up

Fewer North Carolina high school students are completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid this year.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Wondering how you are going to pay for college this semester? Here is a helpful tip

With so many jobs lost this year --- many people are wondering, how are we going to afford this? But, if you are going through a financial struggle, you can ask for help from your financial aid office. Here is how.

Wondering how you are going to pay for college this semester? Here is a helpful tip

As millions of people have applied from unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic and are struggling to pay the bills -- paying for college may seem impossible.

Monica Laliberte, WRAL executive producer/5 on Your Side reporter

FAFSA applications drop across the U.S.

President and CEO of myFutureNC Cecelia Holden discusses the consequences of FAFSA application numbers dropping.

Millions of dollars in college aid go unclaimed each year due to FAFSA

Because of students not filling out the FAFSA form, millions of dollars in college aid go unclaimed each year. A new report found that thousands more applications were unfilled during the pandemic.

Fewer students are applying for federal college aid during pandemic

In mid-March, when many state's began shutdowns, applications began to decline, according to National College Attainment Network.

Rick Armstrong, WRAL multimedia journalist & Maggie Brown, multiplatform producer

Coronavirus may impact financial aid requests for college students

The coronavirus has forced colleges and universities to shut down for the remainder of the school year -- the impact goes deep.

Application fees waived for many NC colleges, universities this week during NC Countdown to College

It's crunch time for high school seniors with college in their sights. Not only do they need to get those college applications in on time, but they also need to fill out critical paperwork for financial aid. CFNC's NC Countdown to College is here to help.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor