Gov. Katie Hobbs is asking schools and others to urge and help students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and she has declared April as the “Finish Line to the FAFSA” month.
Federal delays and glitches have led to a significant drop in FAFSA applications across the country. Just 23% of Arizona high school seniors have submitted their FAFSA so far, according to the Arizona Board of Regents.
“Over the last three years, Arizona high school graduates missed out on nearly $300 million in Pell Grant funding by not completing their FAFSA,” Hobbs said in a written statement. “The Finish Line to the FAFSA campaign is calling on our community to work together to raise awareness about the FAFSA, organize events and provide support to Arizona high schools and graduating seniors.”
The financial aid application is used for more than 17 million students nationwide and is meant to award federal money to help students cover the cost of college through federal student loans, work-study jobs and Pell Grants for low-income students.
The FAFSA was overhauled this year after Congress ordered the U.S. Department of Education to make widespread changes to the system. The goal was to make it easier to fill out and to give better access to low-income families. But repeated delays occurred after the department incorrectly calculated the aid for students and possibly mishandled Pell Grants.
In February, ABOR voted to extend its FAFSA priority deadline for the state’s public universities from April 1 to May 1 in an effort to encourage applications.
“Arizona has seen nearly 10,500 fewer seniors completing the FAFSA compared to last year — a dramatic reduction that could have far-reaching consequences for our students and universities,” said ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata in a statement. “We must come together as a community to support Arizona’s seniors (to) complete the FAFSA.”
Hobbs also wrote a letter addressed to school district superintendents, principals, counselors, educators and community partners in Arizona urging them address the FAFSA shortage in the state.
“(The) decline translates to nearly 11,000 fewer Arizona seniors who have completed the FAFSA compared to 2023— a staggering figure with potentially far-reaching consequences for our students’ higher education aspirations,” she wrote. “In light of these challenges, it’s imperative that we come together as a community to reverse this trend and ensure that our students receive the financial support they need to pursue their educational goals.”
Hobbs suggested the educational leaders host FAFSA completion events for students and families, integrate FAFSA completion activities into the school day, collaborate with partners and nonprofits for support, and broadly share resources with students and families.
Arizona’s universities provide weekly virtual workshops to help students fill out the FAFSA with virtual one-on-one appointments, Hobbs wrote. Additionally, students can text “Hi Benji” to 602-786-8171 for free digital assistance.
There is also a FAFSA hotline available from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 1-833-293-2372.
