After two years of delays and technical challenges, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is expected to launch on time this year and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) is trying to reach higher completion rates in 2026.
The state typically ranks among the lowest in the country when it comes to FAFSA completion rates. Last year, ABOR set a goal to get 40% of Arizona’s high school seniors to complete the form — and they exceeded that goal. This year, ABOR is trying to reach 48%.
Julie Sainz is the director of FAFSA and College Access Initiatives at ABOR. She said they're trying to keep that momentum going by expanding a peer coach program to Pima County.
“Schools that participate in our FAFSA Peer Coach Program have a 5-7% higher FAFSA completion rate than the state average," Sainz said. "We’re also seeing a lot of these schools having more participation in FAFSA workshops amongst students and families.”
The program works by designating a team of seniors at each school to encourage and help their peers complete the form. Sainz said the state is ranked sixth nationally in year-over-year FAFSA improvement. Students who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to enroll in postsecondary education immediately after high school.
ABOR has also partnered with Gov. Katie Hobbs to launch the 50 by Fall campaign, which invites all Title I and public high schools that did not meet last year’s 40% FAFSA completion goal to participate. Schools that sign the pledge and reach 50% FAFSA completion among their senior class by Dec. 31 will receive financial awards from the board ranging from $1,000 to $4,500, based on class size. Title I schools will also be eligible for an additional $500.
“They could use the funding to keep the momentum going in the spring by hosting additional FAFSA workshops and efforts to motivate the other students that haven’t completed the form to do so," Sainz said.
Schools that don’t reach 50% by that date but increase their FAFSA completion by at least 10% in the first three months compared to completions on March 1, 2025, will still receive a smaller incentive award.
ABOR is also hosting a FAFSA and College Readiness Symposium on Sept. 12. Four hundred counselors, educators and college access specialists will gathering at ASU to talk about how they can best support students.
