Some local colleges are adjusting their decision deadlines and financial aid application process for students amid FAFSA delays. 

The student aid application is usually released in October, but a revised, simpler version for the 2024-25 school year was not widely available until last month. Schools will not receive the information they need to award financial aid until sometime in March.

Anna Maria College is asking students who have already filled out their FAFSA to send a screenshot of their "student aid index" and they'll send them a preliminary award.

"We're actually just sending out preliminary awards to all domestic students at this time,” said Vice President of Enrollment John McLaughlin. “A residential student coming to Anna Maria will get a merit award, and on top of that, we're putting out a $5,000 grant for all residential students. And for commuter students, we're putting out an additional $2,000 grant to their packages."

In Worcester, Assumption University created their own financial aid form in October so the school could make financial aid offers earlier.

"From that, we're doing an estimate of their need and from that, we're making a commitment in terms of Assumption gift aid to families” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Bill Boffi. “I think some schools are preparing estimates and we wanted to make more of a commitment to them that they could count on us."

Assumption University, Anna Maria College and Worcester State University are among schools who have pushed back their decision deadlines to June 1.