This is part of a monthly series that informs George Mason University's faculty and staff about how the Office of Admissions and its collaborators are working to build and support a diverse student body that reflects our world and future.
Due to delays in the release of this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Mason has extended its freshman enrollment deposit deadline to May 15.
The updated FAFSA soft-launched at the end of last year and is now open for all students. However, the Department of Education recently announced it will not begin sending batches of FAFSA data to schools until mid-March.
OSFA is continuing to update its models and systems so it is ready to package aid in the weeks after data becomes available. Mason is extending its enrollment deposit deadline to give students enough time to receive their aid and make any necessary adjustments to their application.
For students who are ineligible for the FAFSA, the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application is now available. The VASA is an opportunity for Virginia residents who are ineligible for the FAFSA to access state and institutional aid.
For both freshman and transfer students, the priority filing deadline for aid available on a “first come, first served” basis for both of the FAFSA and VASA is March 1. Students who miss this deadline should still submit either their FAFSA or VASA because aid will remain available.
The FAFSA Simplification page continues to receive updates with new resources and the latest developments for prospective and current Mason students.