A deadline for submitting financial aid paperwork to Missouri State University has been extended by a month.
MSU announced Monday that an April 1 deadline for submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, in order to get a key priority status, has been pushed back to May 1. The move gives prospective MSU students more time to fill out the application, which helps determine eligibility for scholarships and financial aid.
The reason for the extension is a series of delays caused by errors and technical glitches in a new application process. Rob Moore, director of financial aid, said that students have reported bugs and other issues that make completing the application difficult.
“Students and families have faced challenges that are beyond their control,” Moore said. “We hope extending the deadline will ease their concerns and allow more students to qualify for financial aid.”
Missouri State’s priority deadline means that students who complete the FAFSA by May 1 will be eligible for all need-based financial aid. That includes the MO State Access Award, which grants free tuition and fees for Pell-eligible Missouri students.
Similarly, a refund deadline of May 1 for enrollment deposits and housing contracts has been extended to June 1. This extension allows families extra planning time for scheduling orientation and choosing housing.
This is not the first time the deadline was moved. At the start of the year it was moved from Feb. 1 to April 1.
Other colleges
The move mirrors other Springfield colleges. Drury University informed parents that a similar deadline was moving to May 1, said spokesperson Jasmine Cooper. But even that deadline is flexible. The most important deadline for new Drury students is Fusion First Day, an orientation day set for June 21.
“Historically, we work with dozens of students and families after May 1 in confirming their attendance at Drury,” according to a letter sent to families last week. “This year will be no different. We want students to commit to Drury when they are ready to do so, and we recognize it may be after May 1.”
Evangel University has not pushed back its deadlines, but will give families as much time as they need to make their decisions and complete the financial aid search, said spokesperson Erin Hedlun.
“Our team will be available throughout the summer to assist families with filing the FAFSA and completing the financial aid process,” Hedlun said.
Ozarks Technical Community College said it doesn't have any deadlines associated with priority funding, so a deadline of June 1 for summer and fall scholarships remains, said spokesperson Mark Miller.
What changed with the FAFSA?
This year the U.S. Department of Education introduced a new process intended to reduce the amount of time needed, and to increase eligibility for low- and middle-income students.
One of the big changes is a shift away from the Expected Family Contribution to a new formula called the Student Aid Index. And the new application features an option to have information contributed directly from the Internal Revenue Service.
That effectively removed a step where families would have to make a separate request of the IRS to collect information.
But the rollout has not gone smoothly. Users have reported the site has either shut down from malfunctions or does not ever submit forms, according to the Associated Press.
