Fewer Missouri and Kansas students applying for Federal Student Aid

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Drastically fewer students across the nation and in Missouri and Kansas are applying for federal student aid after months of delays and complications with the FAFSA process.

Data from the National College Attainment Network show 12.4 percent fewer students have applied for FAFSA through the same time in 2024 compared to 2023. Missouri is down 12.2%. Kansas is down 14.5%.

It started when the Department of Education attempted to streamline this year’s FAFSA form to make it easier to fill out. Some experts say it is streamlined in some ways but additional steps for students’ parents and other unforeseen snags in the system created challenges for other students.

“They didn’t anticipate the problems that they had but they had them so everybody had to adjust to all those frustrations,” said independent educational consultant James Heryer .

“The admissions people had to adjust to it, the high school counselors and independents like myself had to adjust to it and the parents and students had to adjust to it.”

Missouri College & Career Attainment Network ( MOCAN ) FAFSA Completion Consultant Camry Ivory says those snags coupled with a delayed roll out put some students behind even once workarounds became available.

“That process really wasn’t streamlined until April of this year, almost May, so students and families in those situations didn’t really have any recourse,” Ivory said. “Since the form is so new we’re seeing a lot of challenges we haven’t seen before and it’s just taking time and patience to troubleshoot them.”

Heryer says college application offices have been very understanding, moving back deadlines so students can have as much financial information as possible before forfeiting deposits.

The University of Missouri moved its admission deposit deadline back from May 1 to May 15. University of Kansas moved its deadline back to May 20. UMKC tells FOX4 it moved the FAFSA submission deadline to July 1 so students could qualify for a Roo Advantage scholarship, helping Pell-eligible students cover tuition gaps.

FOX4 asked counselors what students should do to best navigate the application challenges:

Take Ownership – talking to regional recruiters from schools students are interested in can show initiative in a way that makes a difference.

Start Early – Heryer recommends starting in the fall of a student’s junior year in high school to make sure they have plenty of time to pull information together.

Financial Aid Office – schools say those offices might be able to help students estimate how much aid they can expect to help inform the decision-making process.

You can contact the University of Missouri Financial Aid Office here .

You can contact the University of Kansas Financial Aid Office here .

You can contact the UMKC Financial Aid Office here .

If you want in-person help to navigate the FAFSA process, you can get it at these times and dates:

Monday, July 1, 5-7 p.m.

Mid-Continent Public Library 6131 Raytown Rd, Raytown, MO

Monday, July 8, 5-7 p.m.

South Independence Branch Library 13700 E 35th St, Independence, MO

Monday, July 15, 5-7 p.m.

West Wyandotte Public Library 1737 N 82nd St, Kansas City, KS

Monday, July 22, 5-7 p.m.

Kansas City Public Library: Southeast Branch 6242 Swope Pkwy Kansas City MO

Monday, July 29, 5-7 p.m.

Mid-Continent Public Library – Grandview Branch 12930 Booth Ln Grandview MO

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