If you went to college or you have a child in college, you have probably filled out FAFSA. Once you gather all the passwords and tax information, it’s really a pretty simple form. Still, many potential college students don’t fill it out. Governor Whitmer has announced a statewide FAFSA challenge aimed at increasing the FAFSA completion rate specifically for the high school graduating class of 2020.
FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Filling it out is the first step toward getting financial aid and loans to pay for college. It is also generally required by colleges for private scholarship applications. Governor Whitmer is working with the Michigan College Access Network to try to push the FAFSA completion rate from 55.9% to 75% for outgoing high school seniors. The idea is that if the FAFSA is done, there is less likelihood of leaving potential cash on the table, like the $100 million in unspent Pell Grants that 25,000 eligible Michiganders didn’t get because they didn’t apply.
High Schools are invited to participate in the challenge with prizes ranging from student incentives and recognition to having the Governor or other dignitaries speak at their Decision Days in the spring.
Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.
