February 3, 2016
Statewide FAFSA Workshops Assist Families In Completing Financial Aid Applications
College Goal Arizona Helps Ensure Students Don’t Miss Opportunities for Free College Money
PHOENIX (January 27, 2015) – The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education announces its 20th Annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops. FAFSA completion workshops are hosted at more than 45 locations statewide. College and Community sites will host the February 13 and 14 events, while more than 25 high schools have signed on to host one or more workshops as a result of the positive turnout at several high school locations in 2015. The FASFA workshops are designed to give college-bound students and their families free, on-site assistance in completing the FAFSA, and provide information about available financial aid opportunities. A FAFSA is required to apply for all federal and state financial aid programs as well as many private-donor scholarships and work study programs.
The mission of College Goal FAF$A is to increase the number of first-generation and under-served students entering postsecondary education. The goal is to provide awareness of the financial aid process, increase access to accurate and timely information regarding financial aid, as well as offer in-person events where students and families can get help to complete the FASFA. The Commission reports that 92% of students surveyed stated that the help received at a 2015 College Goal FAF$A event was worth the effort of attending and 89% of students surveyed stated that their participation in College Goal FAF$A 2015 increased the likelihood that they would enroll in college or vocational school in the next academic year.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, 90 percent of students who complete the FAFSA application receive some form of federal aid to attending a postsecondary institution. In addition, a data analysis study performed by NerdWallet showed that in the state of Arizona 34 percent of the graduating class of 2013 did not complete the FAFSA, and left more than $75 million dollars of free federal grant money on the table. That works out to $3,478 per student – enough to cover a full year of classes at a local community college with money left over for books.
“Completing the FAFSA early is the key to removing one of the most common barriers students face in going to college,” said Dr. April Osborn, Executive Director for the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education. “There is more than $150 billion of financial aid funding available and every student should be taking advantage of that. The FAFSA is the critical first step in applying for any type of assistance.”
Financial aid professionals and community volunteers will help students and families complete the FAFSA during the February 13 and 14 event. These workshops will be held from 2 - 4 p.m. at a variety of locations spanning the state including sites in: Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe, Tucson, Prescott, Nogales, Yuma and more. High school workshops will also be held statewide, at various times and dates throughout January, February and March. A full list of locations, dates, times and information of what attending families will need to bring – identification, financial information, etc. – can be found at: https://collegegoal.az.gov/college-goal-fafsa.
