The Simplified FAFSA’s Complicated Rollout

Michael and Jeff go deep on the revised FAFSA and the challenges encountered in its rollout. They sat down with Andrew LaCasse, who helped develop the simplified FAFSA in his former role as a senior education policy advisor on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to learn about the back-story behind the legislation and its underlying policy goals. They also spoke with John Marshall, President of Colorado Mesa University, about how they are supporting students through the delay and confusion caused by the FAFSA’s rocky rollout. The episode is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Key Moments

• (0:00) - Intro
• (1:29) - Simplifying the FAFSA and its impact on higher education
• (8:27) - Simplifying the FAFSA form and its impact on college affordability
• (14:25) - FAFSA changes and their impact on higher education
• (20:33) - How colleges are responding to the FAFSA delay
• (26:58) - College affordability and FAFSA changes