First-year mechanical engineering student David Thornton is interviewed about how FAFSA’s “bad math” resulted in the loss of a much-needed $1,500 in Pell Grant. Charles Conn, CPP’s associate director of financial aid, says the FAFSA mistake presents challenges for administrators: “We're in a situation where we really can't help students or their families. They're getting some information from the Department of Ed. We're not.”

This story was originally published and aired by NPR's "All Things Considered" on Jan. 23, 2024.