Reed Applauds White House Plan to Simplify Federal Student Aid Process

Statement

U.S. Senator Jack Reed today commended the Obama Administration for making a series of needed changes that will simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application process and make applying for financial aid easier for college-bound students and their families. Reed urged these changes in a letter to the White House in June, arguing that families needed more reliable information earlier in the college admissions process to make the best and most informed decisions possible.

The new White House initiative will allow students and families to apply for financial aid earlier, starting in October as the college application process gets underway, rather than in January. In addition, students filling out the FAFSA will be able to electronically retrieve tax information filed for an earlier year, known as "prior-prior year" data, rather than waiting until tax season to complete their applications. Together these changes will help families learn about financial aid eligibility much earlier in the college decision process, allowing them to take financial aid into account and make the best decision possible about their higher education plans.

"Students deserve a fair shot at an affordable education and these changes will help families tremendously. Under the current system, students apply for college before they can apply for financial aid, leaving them without the critical information they need to fully weigh college costs. Having the relevant financial aid information earlier in the process should help students and families, especially lower income and first-generation students, to make better, more informed decisions and compare college options and costs," said Senator Reed, who has led the effort in Congress to simplify the FAFSA to help ensure more students can complete the form and get financial aid. "I will continue working to make college more affordable and the financial aid process easier for students and families."

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