Many students may not realize there is still time to fill out the FAFSA and go to college this Fall – in many cases with no financial obligation
RALEIGH NC – Only 35% of Bladen County seniors have filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year, according to the NC First in FAFSA School Tracker. North Carolina leaders are concerned with statewide application numbers down nearly six percent year over year.
North Carolina is on par with the national average with 51.4% of North Carolina high school seniors completing the FAFSA so far this year, placing the state 25th in the nation, behind neighboring Tennessee (70.8%), Georgia (53.4%), and South Carolina (51.6%) .
myFutureNC, along with partners Carolina Demography, College Foundation of North Carolina, College Advising Corps, the Hunt Institute, and the John M. Belk Endowment, are sponsoring the NC First in FAFSA campaign to motivate students to take full advantage of free federal aid to help them pay for college. Studies show students who complete the FAFSA are far more likely to enroll in higher education.
North Carolina government, education, and business leaders are encouraging students to take advantage of opportunities to go to college affordably this fall. Many students may not realize they qualify for the new Longleaf Commitment Grant that will cover tuition and fees for eligible students at all of the state’s 58 community colleges. The first step to qualifying for the Longleaf grant and all federal and state financial aid is to fill out the FAFSA.
“We are at a critical time for our new high school graduates because we know if they don’t attend college immediately following graduation, the likelihood they will ever return for a degree is slim,” said Cecilia Holden, CEO of myFutureNC. “Almost 70% of jobs in North Carolina will require a college degree or certificate by 2030. This class has been through so much with the added stress of the pandemic and we don’t want to see them get left behind.”
The NC First in FAFSA school tracker is a resource for school counselors and the community to track their local school’s progress. Nearly 500 North Carolina high schools are competing for grants in the NC First in FAFSA School Challenge. The current leaders for overall FAFSA completion in the school challenge are: Yancey County Schools (65.9%), Elkin City Schools (63.9%), Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools (61.5%), Weldon City Schools (60.9%), Asheville City Schools (60.6%).
VISIT THE LEADERBOARD to see growth leaders and each category broken down by school size.
ABOUT NC FIRST IN FAFSA:
NC First in FAFSA is a myFutureNC Collaborative that focuses on increasing the number of high school seniors who complete the FAFSA application. Increasing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, completion rate is a fundamental step in North Carolina’s efforts to meet our state’s 2 million by 2030 postsecondary educational attainment goal. Students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to enroll in higher education, persist in their college coursework, and obtain a degree.
Partners include Carolina Demography, College Foundation of North Carolina, College Advising Corps, the Hunt Institute, and the John M. Belk Endowment.
For more information on NC First in FAFSA, visit myfuturenc.org/first-in-fafsa/
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