Higher education costs (e.g., tuition & fees, housing) can create barriers to college enrollment and graduation, especially among low-income and first-generation college students.
Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for federal financial aid, as well as most state and institutional scholarships/grants. However, many eligible students do not complete the FAFSA. States have implemented several strategies to increase FAFSA completion requiring students to complete the FAFSA prior to high school graduation, incentivizing FAFSA completion with prizes, and/or providing free resources to help families complete the FAFSA.
Senate Bill 265 and House Bill 101 would require students to complete and submit the FAFSA before receiving their high school diploma, beginning in the 2022. Students may be exempted from this requirement if they plan to enlist in the armed forces or receive parental consent.
