Problems with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid have had an effect on enrollment numbers, college officials said.FAFSA rolled out a new form this year that caused headaches for families, students and schools. It led to enrollment dates being pushed back, some to June 1."It really did push the cycle back," said Kem DeRego, vice president of enrollment management at the University of New Hampshire. "It also made it so that very few of our models work."UNH officials said many of the hiccups have been smoothed out, and they came close to what they wanted for enrollment numbers.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<About half of the students received more financial aid, while the other half received less. Also, applications from low-income families were lacking. DeRego said that was probably because of confusion surrounding the new form."Those are families who probably would have received more aid, both potentially from the government but also from us," she said.State Rep. Rick Ladd, chairman of the House Education Committee, said that high costs keep some people from college."The costs of education right now are exorbitant, and we've got to do something about that," he said.Ladd said a bill being discussed at the State House looks for ways to have the state's university and community college systems work together to help make higher education more accessible."We've gone down 25% since 2008, 2009, down 160,000 kids," he said.At UNH, officials said they saw a higher-than-usual number of students from New Hampshire transferring to the school from out-of-state schools, and they assume that stems from changes in financial aid packages.DeRego hopes now that the form is fixed, it will be smooth sailing from here."I'm an optimist," she said. "I think it's going to be better from here on out after the year we've been through. If somebody told me there's another error in the spring that's going to be a problem too, I don't think I would be hugely surprised."She said the best advice she could give to any college student, not just UNH students, is that if you have not done your FAFSA paperwork, get it in as soon as possible. Coming up this weekend on "New Hampshire's Business," hear more about the future of the university system and the idea to integrate community colleges. "New Hampshire's Business" airs during the Daybreak show on Sunday.
DURHAM, N.H. —
Problems with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid have had an effect on enrollment numbers, college officials said.
FAFSA rolled out a new form this year that caused headaches for families, students and schools. It led to enrollment dates being pushed back, some to June 1.
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"It really did push the cycle back," said Kem DeRego, vice president of enrollment management at the University of New Hampshire. "It also made it so that very few of our models work."
UNH officials said many of the hiccups have been smoothed out, and they came close to what they wanted for enrollment numbers.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
About half of the students received more financial aid, while the other half received less. Also, applications from low-income families were lacking. DeRego said that was probably because of confusion surrounding the new form.
"Those are families who probably would have received more aid, both potentially from the government but also from us," she said.
State Rep. Rick Ladd, chairman of the House Education Committee, said that high costs keep some people from college.
"The costs of education right now are exorbitant, and we've got to do something about that," he said.
Ladd said a bill being discussed at the State House looks for ways to have the state's university and community college systems work together to help make higher education more accessible.
"We've gone down 25% since 2008, 2009, down 160,000 kids," he said.
At UNH, officials said they saw a higher-than-usual number of students from New Hampshire transferring to the school from out-of-state schools, and they assume that stems from changes in financial aid packages.
DeRego hopes now that the form is fixed, it will be smooth sailing from here.
"I'm an optimist," she said. "I think it's going to be better from here on out after the year we've been through. If somebody told me there's another error in the spring that's going to be a problem too, I don't think I would be hugely surprised."
She said the best advice she could give to any college student, not just UNH students, is that if you have not done your FAFSA paperwork, get it in as soon as possible.
Coming up this weekend on "New Hampshire's Business," hear more about the future of the university system and the idea to integrate community colleges. "New Hampshire's Business" airs during the Daybreak show on Sunday.
