With some college classes starting this week, Arizona’s high school class of 2024 is still lagging behind when it comes to completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Arizona has consistently ranked close to last in the nation for the number of students who complete the form. That was made worse this year by delays on the government’s part.
Julie Sainz works for the Arizona Board of Regents. She said about 36% of the 2024 graduating class has completed the FAFSA.
“We’re about 4,500 FAFSAs down compared to last year," Sainz said. "Since April, we have increased our state FAFSA completion rate by 17%. So that equates to about an additional 17,000 students.”
The state launched a campaign in April to spread the word about workshops and other resources available to families. ABOR was awarded $1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education to enhance FAFSA completion efforts.
Sainz added that it's not too late to get it done, even for those starting college classes this week.
“We definitely recommend that the students reach out to complete that FAFSA application and then obviously work with their financial aid office at the institution that they’re planning to attend to ensure that they can get their financial aid awards," Sainz said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the percentage of the 2024 graduating class who have completed the FAFSA.
