The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga—along with colleges and universities nationwide—is still waiting on the U.S. Department of Education to release FAFSA forms before being able to calculate and issue financial aid award packages to students.
Short for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA is essential for students seeking federal and state financial aid, including the federal Pell Grant and the Tennessee HOPE and UT Promise scholarships.
“We understand the frustration and uncertainty that FAFSA delays have brought to students and their families during this crucial decision-making time,” said Lee Pierce, UTC assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management.
- The Tennessee HOPE Scholarship provides merit-based financial assistance to Tennessee residents attending in-state postsecondary institutions.
- The UT Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship for undergraduate students at UTC and the six other UT System schools covering tuition and fees after other financial aid for Tennessee residents with household incomes under $75,000. “Last-dollar” scholarships cover the remaining tuition and mandatory fees not covered by other forms of financial aid.
- The Federal Pell Grant is a form of need-based financial aid provided by the U.S. federal government to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate or professional degree.
UTC is urging incoming freshmen, transfer students and returning students who believe they qualify for the Tennessee HOPE and UT Promise scholarships to fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible.
The Department of Education (DOE) oversees the FAFSA system, processing applications before sending them to schools—which then create unique financial aid packages tailored to each student’s specific needs.
The DOE streamlined the 2024-25 FAFSA, simplifying completion and broadening aid eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant, a non-repayable financial aid product.
However, delays have disrupted the process, beginning with the new FAFSA launch in January and changes to eligibility calculation formulas. The DOE has told schools to expect FAFSAs to start rolling in by mid-March, significantly later than in previous years. The process of releasing the FAFSAs to schools will take several weeks to be completed.
“Please be assured, here at UTC, we’re poised and ready to move swiftly once we receive the FAFSA forms. Our team is dedicated to processing financial aid packages promptly, ensuring our future students can proceed with their educational plans confidently,” Pierce said.
The new FAFSA also provides a streamlined user experience; applicants now only see relevant questions based on their answers. For example, applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 questions depending on their individual circumstances.
While the new FAFSA is expected to take around an hour on average for applicants, some could answer as few as 18 questions in less than 10 minutes. The online form also includes the ability to retrieve tax information securely directly from the IRS.
The changes are part of the DOE implementation of the bipartisan FUTURE Act and the FAFSA Simplification Act.
