Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos E. Santiago has approved a recommendation to extend the priority deadline for state financial aid (MASSGrant) from May 1 to July 1, 2021. This action follows a review of data analyzed by the Department of Higher Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance which shows a 4.5% decrease in the number of Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSAs) received as of May 14, 2021, compared to similar period in 2019-2020. Among students, the biggest decline in applications was seen in the community college population.
“Massachusetts now ranks 5th in the nation for FAFSA completion,” said Commissioner Santiago. “It's a sign of the great strides that have been made by college and high school staff working remotely—and valiantly—throughout this pandemic to help students complete the form. This deadline extension will, we hope, help even greater numbers of students access the aid they need to succeed in college.”
The FAFSA is available for download at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Students should contact their college financial aid office for further information, or DHE’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at osfa@osfa.mass.edu.
