The prospect of attending college in 2024 has become significantly more daunting for students across the United States as they face the compounded challenges of a delayed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a potential government shutdown. With college already being a substantial financial undertaking, the importance of timely financial aid resources cannot be overstated.

The FAFSA, which is a stepping stone to obtaining vital financial assistance for college, including grants, loans, and work-study opportunities, traditionally opens applications on October 1st for the following academic year. However, fears have been stoked among students and families that the FAFSA could see delays in 2024. This is at a time when each passing day without aid confirmation can lead to missed opportunities and heightened anxieties about funding college education.

Adding to this stress is the specter of a government shutdown. If lawmakers are unable to agree on budgetary matters, non-essential government services may halt — FAFSA processing included. It happened in the past, where government shutdowns resulted in furloughed staff within the Department of Education, further delaying the financial aid process. Even after the government resumes operations following a shutdown, backlogs can take weeks or even months to clear.

For students poised on the cusp of higher education, these potential delays represent not merely administrative frustrations but genuine roadblocks to accessing education. The repercussions could range from students having to delay their college enrollment to making different educational choices entirely—perhaps selecting less expensive institutions or skipping higher education for employment.

Moreover, delays in processing FAFSA applications could also impact colleges and universities themselves. Institutions often rely on timely information about their incoming class’s financial needs to make decisions regarding institutional aid and budgeting. A bottleneck in this process could result in financial strains for these schools and less support available for students.

As we look toward 2024, it’s crucial that stakeholders at all levels — including policymakers, educational institutions, student advocacy groups, and families — grapple with these possible scenarios. Discussions and contingency plans are essential to ensure that if these challenges do arise, there are systems in place to help mitigate harm to students’ educational prospects.

It is certainly an issue worthy of national attention as investing in our students’ future pays profound dividends for society as a whole. Working preemptively can increase resilience against such administrative setbacks — ensuring that financing barriers do not stand between our nation’s youth and their educational aspirations.