The New York Financial Aid for College Completion Project
High schools can make a significant difference in helping students who are low-income, immigrant, first-generation, homeless, and in foster care complete the FAFSA and other state financial aid applications. Please check back for updates for the 2024-2025 Better FAFSA!
Research shows that 90% of high school seniors who complete the FAFSA go to college immediately after graduation compared to just 55% of seniors who do not complete the FAFSA. And New Yorkers are missing out on an estimated $152 million in federal financial aid by not filling out the FAFSA, plus additional resources they could have received from New York State TAP grants, NYS DREAM Act support, and Excelsior Scholarships. The Financial Aid for College: High School Toolkit provides all the resources schools need to support students and families to apply for every dollar of financial aid for which they qualify. Â
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2022-23 FAFSA Challenge
The New York FAFSA Completion Challenge recognizes schools for high FAFSA completion rates and for improvements in FAFSA completion rates. Twelve awards will be granted to schools across the state. Each award will consist of $750 granted to the winning high schools for the purpose of providing a scholarship to one of its students. Â
Financial Aid for College: High School Toolkit
Extensive research shows that high schools can make a significant difference in helping college hopefuls who are low-income, immigrants, and first-generation college students complete the FAFSA and other New York State financial aid applications.
In this toolkit, you’ll find 10 evidence-based best practices your school can use to support all eligible seniors and their families to complete their FAFSA, NYS Application for TAP, NYS DREAM Act, and Excelsior Scholarship applications.
Let’s make sure no senior in New York misses out on a single dollar of the financial aid for which they qualify! Explore our resources for school leaders and learn about new changes to the FAFSA that take effect this year.
FAFSA Completion Data for High Schools & School Districts
Completing the FAFSA is a critical step on the path to college. Stay tuned for our data tool update in early 2023!
FAFSA Completion Rates Briefing – April 2022
Even as high schools across New York returned to school in person this year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rate continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels, particularly at schools that serve the largest shares of students from low-income backgrounds.
Statewide, the FAFSA completion rate at the end of February was down 1 percentage point from the same time last year and 5 percentage points since the end of February 2020, before the pandemic forced school closures. 
During this briefing, Ed Trust–NY and practitioners discuss our findings, and how New York can do more to support students and families with financial aid applications.