Flagstaff FAFSA Completion Rises

FLAGSTAFF (November 18, 2017)

Flagstaff area high schools saw a combined 21 percent increase in completed applications for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) this year over last. According to data from the Federal Student Aid office, by November 17, 2017 the seven public high schools in Flagstaff submitted 651 FAFSA applications compared to 549 by the same date in 2016, a 19% increase.  607 of those 2017 applications were completed by the November date compared to only 549 in 2016.  This tallies to a 21% increase in FAFSA completions year over year.

Additionally, there was a 2% increase in the ratio between the number of applications completed and the number of applications submitted this year over last.

The public high schools included in the count are: BASIS Flagstaff, Coconino High School, Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy, Flagstaff High School, Northland Preparatory Academy, Ponderosa High School, and Summit High School.

Data show that when a high school student completes the FAFSA, they are more likely to enroll in a post-secondary educational experience, which is one of the five goals of the LAUNCH Flagstaff partnership. Additionally, a Georgetown University report estimates that by 2020 65% of all jobs will require education or training beyond high school.

In an effort to improve post-secondary education enrollment, LAUNCH recently partnered with the Northern Arizona College Resource Center, Coconino Community College and College Knowing and Going to host a FAFSA Completion Workshop on November 4th.  Click here to read more about that event.