Arizona typically ranks among the lowest in the country for the number of high school seniors who fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). But the state has been steadily raising its completion rates.
A few years ago, delays and technical glitches at the federal level caused a drop in completed applications nationwide. Since then, Arizona has implemented several new strategies to get students to fill out the FAFSA, setting a new goal each year — and reaching it.
Nick Opich is the associate vice president of communications for the Arizona Board of Regents, which governs the state’s public university system. He said they started by trying to get 40% of Arizona’s high school seniors to complete it, then 48%, and this year, they’re aiming for 50%.
“By filling out the FAFSA, a student is 84% more likely to immediately enroll in some form of higher education after high school than if they don't," Opich said. "For students in the lowest socioeconomic quartile, that number jumps to 127% more likely to pursue education after high school."
That data is from research conducted by the National College Attainment Network. Last year, Arizona ranked fourth in the country for year over year improvement in FAFSA completions. One of the strategies Opich said has proven successful is the state's FAFSA Peer Coaching model.
"We have high school seniors that go through training and work with their peers to help them navigate the FAFSA," Opich said. "For schools that participate in the FAFSA Peer Coach program, they have about a 10% higher FAFSA completion rate than schools that don't."
Opich said Arizona will likely remain at the bottom for completion rates nationally because other states have mandates that keep their rates higher.
"Like in order to get your high school diploma [in those states], you have to fill out the FAFSA," Opich said. "So the reality is we're probably never gonna catch up to those states without a similar piece of legislation."
But, Opich said they're focused less on competing with other states and more on making college feel more attainable for Arizona's high schoolers.
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