HATTIESBURG, Miss. ( WHLT ) – Officials with Mississippi colleges and universities are worried that frustrations with Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications could deter potential students from applying for college.

An update by the U.S. Department of Education, which was intended to make applying for FAFSA easier, caused application delays. It was also riddled with technical and calculation errors.

Many students were unable to finish and submit their applications.

Officials with William Carey University (WCU) in Hattiesburg said they’ve been able to successfully navigate issues with FAFSA, but it could impact smaller college enrollment and the job market. While most issues have been resolved, WCU officials said colleges still cannot provide verification to the U.S. Department of Education, which could delay approval for low-income students.

The number of FAFSA applicants is down this year, according to the National College Attainment Network.

“We’re already seeing that as of this time last year, there’s about 30% of high school seniors are not completing the FAFSA from where we were last year. What that means is right now, we currently have a teacher shortage. We currently have a nursing shortage. And so what does that mean? In three to four years, we could see that escalate. And what happens when the job market becomes shorthanded? It has a major effect on our local and also our national economy,” said Dean Pace, director of Financial Aid at WCU.

WCU officials still encourage to students to apply for FAFSA. If you encounter any issues in submitting the application, you can contact your college’s financial aid department.

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