Wittenberg University announced today that it has extended its May 1 College Decision Deadline to June 1st for the incoming Fall 2024 class. This announcement comes just days after the U.S. Department of Education announced further delays and complications in processing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data.

"We understand that the college decision-making process can already be complicated and stressful," said Maribeth Stevens, vice president for enrollment management at Wittenberg. "By extending our deadline, we hope to ease the burden on our prospective students and their families as they make an informed college decision."

The 2024-2025 FAFSA has been plagued with significant technical delays over the last several months, following the initial passage of the FAFSA Simplification Act by Congress in 2020. On January 30th, the U.S. Department of Education announced that students' financial data will not be sent to institutions until "mid-March," roughly five months later than a typical year. This information is necessary for institutions to be able to create accurate financial aid packages for prospective and current students relative to their eligibility for federal, state, and institutional funding. This announcement came less than a day before Wittenberg and all other colleges and universities expected to begin receiving student FAFSA data on January 31st.

"This year's FAFSA has caused a great deal of frustration and uncertainty, both for prospective students and families, as well as institutions across the country. Extending the traditional May 1 decision deadline day in light of these challenges is simply the right thing to do for our students," Stevens said. "Our Admission and Financial Aid teams are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to be prepared to create financial aid packages as quickly as possible once we receive the student's FAFSA data from the federal government."

For students and families who have been able to successfully file the FAFSA, the government has also indicated that they will not be able to make any corrections to their original forms until at least mid-March.

"This extension is a demonstration of Wittenberg University's dedication to supporting our students and their families," said President Michael L. Frandsen, Ph.D. "We understand the impact that financial aid can have on the decision-making process, and we want to ensure that every student has ample time to navigate this process without feeling rushed."

Over the next several weeks, prospective students and families are encouraged to take the following actions:

• Submit their free application to Wittenberg University
• Submit the FAFSA and add our school code (003143)
• Visit their top college choices and explore their opportunities
• Utilize the Witt Net Price Calculator to estimate potential cost of attendance
• Reach out to the Office of Admission with any questions

Wittenberg will continue to monitor the ongoing FAFSA challenges and will adjust its timelines as necessary.

“We remain committed to providing an exceptional educational experience and to fostering a supportive community for all students,” Stevens said. “We also look forward to welcoming the newest members of the Wittenberg family this fall.”