Whitworth University Extends College Decision Day to June 1

Whitworth University will extend its deadline for incoming students to accept their admission offers from May 1 to June 1 for first-year students enrolling in fall 2024.

The decision to issue the one-month extension of “College Decision Day” comes after ongoing delays regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that colleges and universities will not begin receiving students’ financial aid information from the FAFSA until mid-March of this year. This will in turn delay when students and their families may begin receiving financial aid offers from their universities of choice.  

“While over one-third of our fall 2024 class has already committed to Whitworth, we recognize many students and their families will need more time due to the delays of the FAFSA update,” says Josh Hibbard, vice president for enrollment management. “By extending the Decision Day deadline, we’re providing them with greater opportunity to review their full financial aid offers before making a decision to join Whitworth’s mind-and-heart community.” 

In December 2020, Congress passed the FASFA Simplification Act, which significantly overhauls the process and systems used to award federal student aid. This includes the FASFA form, the need analysis that determines aid eligibility, changes to terminology, and many policies and procedures for schools, like Whitworth, that participate in federal student aid programs.

Hibbard says the university will continue to monitor the evolving situation and provide flexibility as needed while balancing the university’s commitment to first-year student success.

Families seeking more information on the timeline can visit Whitworth’s admissions and financial aid webpage, which provides additional details about confirming enrollment at the university, key deadlines and information about accessing financial aid.

About Whitworth University:

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Contacts:

Trisha Coder, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.