Arizona high school seniors are completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at a faster pace this year, and a new statewide scholarship program could help drive those numbers even higher.
College Ready AZ — a partnership between the Arizona Board of Regents, Helios Education Foundation, Arizona Community Foundation and Valley of the Sun United Way — is offering $50,000 in scholarships to encourage students to finish the FAFSA and pursue higher education in Arizona. Twenty-five students will each receive $2,000, awarded monthly and available for use at an Arizona community college or one of the state’s public universities.
Students can apply through April. To be considered, applicants must complete the FAFSA and submit an essay explaining how the scholarship would support their education and how they plan to contribute to their community after earning a degree or certificate.
State education leaders say the application process helps identify students’ goals and their long-term plans to remain in Arizona for school and future careers. They note that completing the FAFSA significantly increases the likelihood that a student will enroll in college immediately after high school — something Arizona has struggled with in recent years. According to the Board of Regents, Arizona seniors collectively missed out on roughly $100 million in federal aid last year because so many left the FAFSA unfinished.
Officials also point to the redesigned FAFSA, which now takes many students less than 15 minutes to complete, as a factor contributing to this year’s early surge in submissions.
More information about the scholarship and FAFSA access resources is available through the Arizona Board of Regents’ student support portal.
