As Wisconsin colleges and universities try to increase enrollment, new data reveals a concerning trend that might slow down their efforts.
Jay Rothman, the President of Universities of Wisconsin, noted that about 60% of current students in the system rely on financial aid. However, recent data shows a slowdown in applications for this financial assistance.
The National College Attainment Network reported that, as of August 2, only about 43% of high school seniors in Wisconsin’s class of 2024 have completed a financial aid application. This marks a 9.7% decrease from the previous year.
Rothman expressed his worries during a UW Board of Regents meeting on June 6, blaming the drop in applications on delays in the new Financial Aid application process.
“This is more than just a delay,” Rothman said. “It could determine whether or not a student decides to attend college.”
Data provided by the Universities of Wisconsin shows a decline in processed financial aid applications. For example, UW-Green Bay processed 5,873 applications so far, compared to 6,903 by this time last year. Similarly, UW-Oshkosh processed 6,359 applications, down from 9,906 the previous year.
This issue isn’t unique to Wisconsin. Nationally, the number of completed financial aid applications for the class of 2024 has dropped by nearly 10% compared to the last academic year.
“We don’t know yet how this will affect fall enrollments, but it’s likely to have a negative impact,” Rothman said.
In response to these challenges, the U.S. Department of Education announced that the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available by December 1, aiming to improve the application process after a difficult 2024-25 cycle.