The University of Oregon is extending its confirmation deadline from May 1 to June 1 for students choosing their college this fall, and extending the priority Free Application for Federal Student Aid filing date from March 1 to April 1 for all students.
On Thursday the university announced the extension. Universities across the western United States, including the California State University System and the University of Idaho are also extending their deadlines to ease the decision process for students.
UO communications told the Emerald that there is no indication the university would be waiting on records from the Department of Education until the end of spring term — when grades are reviewed and packages are built for current students.
In January the United States Department of Education notified universities that it would be unable to forward students’ financial aid information until early March. 
This delay is due in part to the calculations for the Student Aid Index, the formula from which aid amount is decided, needing to be adjusted for inflation. This made an additional $1.8 billion in federal aid available to students.
UO typically receives financial aid information from the FAFSA shortly after the form becomes available to students, typically on Oct. 1. In 2023, the form was delayed until Dec. 31.
Jim Brooks, UO director of student financial aid and scholarships, said the delay was due to an overhaul of the FAFSA form in order to make it simpler for students to complete. 
In a typical year, the FAFSA being available in October gives a university’s financial aid department time to process information, analyze data and help students who are having issues with their FAFSA form.
The timespan between the usual October rollout and decision day in May also allows the UO Financial Aid Department to prepare to start building financial aid packages shortly after the UO Board of Trustees sets tuition during their meetings on March 11 and 12. 
“[The Department of Education] has said they will send the information by March 15,” Brooks said. “So that slows us down.”
Brooks said that the largest concern is with current high school seniors who need to make a decision on which university they will attend in the fall. The high schoolers will get late information regarding financial aid offers they may receive, which could have an impact on the university they commit to. 
Students already attending a university will not be affected by the delay unless their financial data is not sent by March 15, according to Brooks. Current students may experience a lag in receiving financial aid offers if they had problems filing their FAFSA, or if information on their form needs to be verified.
“If the department meets their deadline our hope is that by early April we are pushing [financial aid packages] out,” Brooks said.
Destanie Olson, a UO freshman, said that receiving a financial aid offer from UO with plenty of time to spare before decision day helped her decide to attend the university.
“The thought of having to wait any longer because the information is delayed is stressful,” Olson said. “I can’t imagine being a senior in high school and having to wait even longer for my financial aid package.”
Olson is a Pathway Oregon scholarship student, who receives fully funded tuition and fees. She said that if the delay were to postpone her  receiving a financial aid package for the 2024-2025 academic year, she’d be concerned about her financial stability.

Brooks said it is important that students continue to fill out their FAFSA. Despite the delay in receiving FAFSA information, Brooks said UO’s financial aid department has heard from students that the change in the form has made it easier and faster for them to complete.