Virginia Tech to extend admissions deposit deadline for first-year students to May 15
Due to continued delays in the availability of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applicant data announced by the U.S. Department of Education and concerns expressed by our students and families, Virginia Tech will extend its deposit deadline for first-year students this spring from May 1 to May 15.
The federal government is implementing a FAFSA simplification process this year as a result of the FAFSA Simplification ACT passed by Congress in 2021. However, due to a delay in the launch of the new FAFSA process, colleges and universities are unable to receive student data until mid-March, impacting their abilities to provide complete information on financial aid packages in a timely manner.
Given the current situation, Virginia Tech anticipates that it will be able to provide families with financial aid information at about mid-April.
“Understandably so, families are concerned about the FAFSA process this year, and they are telling us that they need more time to make fully informed decisions” said Juan Espinoza, interim vice provost for enrollment management. “With the launch of the Virginia Tech Advantage initiative and our institutional commitment to access and affordability as a land-grant institution, we believe that an extension to May 15 is the right thing to do for our students and their families.”
For the fourth straight year, Virginia Tech has set a new high for the number of first-year applications for admissions. A record 52,365 first-year applications were submitted for fall 2024 admission – 11 percent more than a year ago. First-year applications have increased more than 50 percent since 2018, when Virginia Tech changed its admissions process to include the development of a more holistic review process. The Common Application was introduced in 2020. In addition, the university began collecting self-reported academic information and streamlined the fee waiver application process.
Admission decisions for those who applied for early action this year have been released. Regular decision applicants will be notified by the end of March. Students who have not submitted a FAFSA are encouraged to visit the Virginia Tech Scholarships and Financial Aid website.
The target for next fall’s first-year class is 7,085 students, in line with 2023 first-year enrollment. For the next academic year, Virginia Tech has set a total enrollment goal slightly above 31,000 undergraduate students.
Students who seek to transfer to Virginia Tech for the summer or fall sessions have until March 1 to apply. For information on undergraduate dates and deadlines, visit the Undergraduate Admissions website.
