"Cuts at the Department of Education (ED) are seemingly increasing student confusion about federal financial aid," Best Colleges reports. 

"A July survey of financial aid administrators from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) found that the share of institutions reporting student confusion or concern rose from 32% in May to 51% in July. Additionally, 3 in 5 respondents (60%) now say there has been an increase in student inquiries, up from 45% in May.

Still, NASFAA says it’s unclear exactly why there has been an increase in student inquiries.

'While inquiry volume often increases during the summer, the timing may also reflect growing student awareness of federal changes, including recent legislation and reports of ED-related disruptions,' NASFAA’s report states.

'Institutions did not always indicate whether inquiries were directly tied to the [reduction in force], but several noted student confusion about FAFSA processing and federal aid systems.'"

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 8/28/2025