BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the first time, the state of Alabama is ranked nineteenth in the nation for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion and second in year-over-year change.
FAFSA opens doors for students to access and receive federal, public, and private financial aid for post-secondary pathways.
This achieved milestone could be attributed to multiple factors including the resolution passed last April making financial aid completion an opt-out policy in which high school graduating seniors have to complete FAFSA or sign an opt-out waiver before graduation.
FAFSA completion is consistently associated with positive post-secondary outcomes; according to the U.S. Department of Education, 92 percent of students who complete FAFSA enroll in college during fall semester.
“The launching of the FAFSA policy has strengthened collaborative efforts with high school counselors and two and four-year colleges and universities across the state which is a significant act that’s essential to increasing the number of students who enter a post-secondary pathway,” said Alabama Possible’s Executive Director Chandra Scott. “This collective support is not only vital to helping us achieve the overall goal of having 500,000 Alabamians with valuable credentials, but is also a catalyst to increasing awareness and bridging resources and talents that are essential to breaking barriers to prosperity in our state.”
Alabama Possible is a statewide nonprofit organization that breaks down barriers to prosperity through advocacy, education, and collaboration.
