PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
(WTAQ-WLUK) — As colleges and universities across Wisconsin work to boost enrollment numbers, some troubling figures could hinder that growth.
Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman says roughly 60% of current students enrolled in the system receive financial aid. Now, new data shows applying for that higher education assistance is slowing.
According to the National College Attainment Network, through August 2, about 43% of class of 2024 high school seniors in Wisconsin have completed an application. That’s a 9.7% decrease from last year.
Rothman didn’t shy away from voicing his concerns at a UW Board of Regents meeting earlier this summer on June 6. He pointed to the delayed rollout of a new Financial Aid application process as a reason for a drop in applications.
“This is not just a delay,” said Rothman during that meeting. “This could make the difference between whether or not somebody ultimately goes to school or doesn’t.”
The Universities of Wisconsin have provided data showing how many financial aid applications have been processed by the system.
As of last week, UW Green Bay has processed a total of 5,873 applications — compared to 6,903 from the same time last year for the 2023-24 academic year.
“Some folks have heard some of the uncertainty around the FAFSA, but we have seen some numbers bump up and we are doing the best that we can to make sure that students are applying,” said Vanessa Mahlik, a financial aid assistant director of student service at UW-Green Bay.
These figures include both first-year and returning students.
At UW-Oshkosh, 6,359 applications have been processed — down from 9,906 the year before.
And it’s not just a trend in Wisconsin.
Nationally, there has been a decrease in completed applications for class of 2024 high schoolers of just about 10% compared to last academic year.
“We don’t know yet how this story is going to end, how the drop in FAFSA completions will impact fall enrollments. But we know one thing is certain, it is not going to be positive,” said Rothman.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced its 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid form will be released to all students on or before December 1.
“Following a challenging 2024-25 FAFSA cycle, the Department listened carefully to the input of students, families, and higher education institutions, made substantial changes to leadership and operations at Federal Student Aid, and is taking a new approach this year that will significantly improve the FAFSA experience,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
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