The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an important part of securing financial aid for higher education. In an effort to increase educational accessibility and affordability for Arizona students, Governor Katie Hobbs has proclaimed April 2024 as the “Finish Line to the FAFSA Month.”
The proclamation calls upon those working in higher education to encourage and support students in completing the FAFSA. It also emphasizes the importance of completing the FAFSA in making college and university more affordable for students and families. Completion of the FAFSA opens the door to billions of dollars in federal financial aid. In the proclamation, Gov. Hobbs highlights how students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to enroll in colleges, persist in their coursework, and obtain a degree compared to students who do not submit a FAFSA. Also noted in the proclamation, over the past 3 years, high school graduates missed out on nearly $300 million in Pell Grant funding by not completing the FAFSA.
Challenges with the new FAFSA form, including delays in the release of the FAFSA, as well as technical glitches, have completion rates down across the country. In Arizona, nearly 11,000 fewer seniors have completed the FAFSA compared to last year.
With the goal of increasing FAFSA completion rates, state and local governments, schools, universities, and college access organizations are coming together to support students to ensure they reach the finish line by completing the FAFSA.
In support of the proclamation, we at Arizona GEAR UP are working on providing resources and support to our schools, students, and families. Below are our available resources to help reach the finish line and complete the FAFSA.
- Online FAFSA Support- GEAR UP students and families can schedule a virtual appointment with our GEAR UP staff to have 1-on-1 support on completing the FAFSA. Appointments are available in English and Spanish.
- Senior Launch Guide Video Series– Covering what you need to complete the FAFSA.
- FAFSA Completion Steps Postcard– This month we sent out a postcard to families with information on the FAFSA and 8 steps on how to successfully complete the FAFSA. The postcard can be found online on our site!
- Blog posts with information regarding FAFSA – Check out our GEAR UP Blog to get the latest news and tips on the 2024-25 FAFSA.
- FAFSA Completion Events – Our schools and partners are hosting several FAFSA Family Support events across Arizona.
- FAFSA Motivation Playlist – Help motivate your students and families with a playlist featuring a variety of motivational songs.