Salisbury University feeling ripple effects of FAFSA glitches

SALISBURY, MD. – Instead of the FAFSA application launching in October of 2023, it launched in December, sending many universities across the country into a frenzy, working to play catch up.

Salisbury University was no different. Director of financial aid and scholarship, Mason White, said the university is feeling the ripple effects of the delayed launch.

“We did see reduction; we’re currently at about 8% down from this time last year,” White said.

Despite the dip in FAFSA applicants, White said that didn’t change the fact that students wanted to attend SU. The university welcomed one of its biggest incoming classes, some 1,400 students.

“SU was able to bring in the second largest incoming class in its history,” White said.

And for the university to continue to grow, White hopes the next FAFSA launch in December will be different from last year’s.

“We are hopeful that the Department of Education is working really diligently to smooth out the FAFSA process,” White said.