FAFSA Initiative Op-Ed

It’s Not Too Late.

Financial Aid for College is Available for Virginia’s Seniors

If you’ve thrown up your hands at the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you’re not alone. FAFSA completion is down 9.8% as compared to the same date last year in Virginia, but that only tells part of the story. Decreases are most prevalent for students who need financial aid the most. Schools serving a high number of low-income students are down 34.1%. Schools with higher populations of minority students are down 17.1%. The inequities exacerbated by COVID-19 continue tobe revealed.

Though the decline is troubling, the good news is, it’s not too late. Money for college is still available, and several colleges and universities in Virginia pushed back their deadlines for applications and financial aid in recognition of the pandemic’s effects. Virginia’s Community Colleges, firmly grounded in accessibility and affordability, maintain rolling deadlines. The Governor’s new “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” (G3) initiative provides financial support to cover tuition, fees, and books to eligible Virginia students who complete a FAFSA. Given the exceptional quality of higher education institutions in the Commonwealth and this year’s adjusted timelines, high school seniors have numerous options for pathways that will serve them well.

We know pathways are useless if too many barriers obstruct the way. This is where Virginia’s access providers can help. Students in Virginia can receive 1-on-1 FAFSA assistance by going to: https://calendly.com/fafsa-help. Schedule a meeting, and you will be connected with an access provider from Access College Foundation, ECMC’s The College Places, GReat Aspirations ScholarshiP Fund (GRASP), or the Virginia College Advising Corps. These organizations have banded together to meet this critical need for students and families. You could also find another provider that serves your school division or locality. There are numerous college access organizations in Virginia making a positive impact on postsecondary access and attainment, contributing to the economic development and strength of our communities.

According to a longitudinal study by the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 92% of seniors who completed the FAFSA enrolled in postsecondary institutions by the November following graduation. Only 51% of seniors who did not complete a FAFSA did so. The difference is staggering. And understandable. It’s hard for most of us to process how to pay for anything that costs thousands of dollars. FAFSA completion opens several opportunities. If your family has high economic need, you could receive the Pell Grant, currently $6,495 for the 2021-2022 academic year - funding that does not need to be repaid. For those families with moderate income, FAFSA submission provides access to federal loans at low interest rates, the vehicle by which most students finance their education. FAFSA completion is also a requirement for many scholarships, including those that are merit-based. And it unlocks institutional financial aid provided by colleges and universities, which can truly make the difference in a student attending or not.

Allow yourself a deep breath and then bring your hands back to the keyboard. FAFSA completion is the most important step for students to find their footing on a college pathway, and Virginia’s college access providers are ready to guide the way.

Joy Pugh is the executive director of Virginia College Advising Corps, a statewide college access program based at the University of Virginia, and is the current board president of Virginia College Access Network.