FAFSA Verification Takes Center Stage in COVID-19 Era

The current pandemic is exacerbating the laborious process of reviewing verifications for student FAFSA applications — placing increased demands on financial aid offices at colleges and universities everywhere.

Over the last few years, many higher ed student financial aid departments have begun acknowledging the need and even adopting technologies to automate FAFSA and financial aid processing. The normal verification process is often referred to as a highly complicated and stressful experience for students and their families. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, this process is further exacerbating the laborious and time-intensive verification process that greatly impacts not only students but staff and advisers as well. The latest Achilles' heel for institutions will become the enormous challenge of reviewing verifications for student FAFSA applications during the pandemic and into the future.