Each year, high school seniors fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine their eligibility for student financial aid to pay for college. However, not all students do, and those most likely to benefit from federal aid are also less likely to apply for it. In 2016, 63 percent of college-intending high schoolers in the lowest-income quintile completed a FAFSA, compared to 73 percent of those in the highest-income quintile. Studies show that complications in the FAFSA filing process, as well as lack of awareness about financial aid options and the overall cost of college, can pose significant barriers to college application and attendance, particularly for low-income students.
Continuing to improve college access, particularly for low-income students, begins with understanding the barriers students face in filling out the FAFSA and acquiring financial aid. This report from the Brown Center Chalkboard outlines those barriers and makes recommendations to alleviate them.