Over the past several years, Republican state lawmakers have filed bill after bill meant to restrict how certain topics can be discussed in public college classrooms. A common conservative complaint—that leftist academics promote flimsy ideology rather than teach hard facts—became more than rhetoric. In some states, it became law.

But what about the First Amendment? What about academic freedom? How much control can a state really impose over professors at public colleges?

While students rely on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to know which colleges they can afford to attend, institutions also rely on the form to help them package their financial aid.

In other words, the FAFSA is a critical part of every college’s attempt to optimize financial aid in order to maximize enrollment and increase net tuition revenue. This year, that mission could be compromised because of the FAFSA's challenging rollout.

Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona recently announced an in-depth overhaul of its Federal Student Aid office, following a chaotic debut of this year's revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 

While many higher education watchers applaud the move, others believe it is too late for any changes to make an impact on students currently struggling to complete the FAFSA.