Contributing Writer | Leeann Sanon
An email was sent by FIU on Monday, February 23, 2026, stating that a degree audit will be in effect in the summer of 2026 to ensure that FAFSA funding is being allocated towards students’ primary major. This mandate is meant to ensure that FAFSA aid is distributed so that the primary major is satisfied, but limits FAFSA from covering courses after the fact. FAFSA is an asset for students, helping ensure they can pay for their credit hours.
“Once you have completed all the requirements for your primary major, you will no longer be eligible for FAFSA-based financial aid, even if you are still working on a second major, minor, or second bachelor’s degree,” said the FIU Enrollment Services Communication email.
This mandate may result in course withdrawal and mass unenrollment from FIU. These changes are unnecessary and counterproductive to the college experience, where students are meant to explore. This change will deter students from learning about different courses. Which implies that FIU is trying to persuade students to receive a primary major only, which will drastically affect students who are in the process of receiving a minor, certificate, or graduate credit.
This financial aid course auditor is meant to reallocate aid that would have previously been used for a minor, certificate, or graduate school credits. Once the degree audit is completed, students must pay for the remaining credits out of pocket. This restriction will make it harder for low-income students to explore possible majors or pursue a minor or certificate.
Jackson Rickette, a freshman year finance major at FIU, said that educational institutions all over the United States seem to be taking funding from the youth, which he believes is a horrible decision. He also believes that there will be negative consequences to the enrollment total of FIU.
The changes to this new audit system will be detrimental to our campus.
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