This summer, many students, including Leslie Valdovinos at California State University, Dominguez Hills, faced significant stress due to widespread issues with the revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The new system caused delays in financial aid offers, especially affecting “mixed-status” students, and led to uncertainty about funding for the upcoming school year. As of May, 28% of students nationwide had not received their financial aid offers. California State University, Monterey Bay responded by offering a $4,000 “backup” scholarship to support low-income students facing delays. Meanwhile, incoming students like Azul Hernandez have turned to local scholarships to cover tuition, but still face uncertainty about future aid.
