Has your family completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) yet? 

Based on the data, there’s a chance that the answer is “no.” Submissions for this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are down 28% over 2023 in Arizona, leaving millions of dollars of federal aid on the table. 

The good news is: it’s not too late! For high school students who need help to complete the vital application, Education Forward Arizona and other groups are offering in-person and online assistance.

Want help at home? Try Education Forward Arizona’s Ask Benji, a chatbot that provides free FAFSA support via text answers to nearly 1,000 common questions related to FAFSA, financial aid and college readiness. Just text “Hi Benji” to 602-786-8171 to get started.

Last year alone, the digital assistant helped nearly 34,000 students. Among students who interacted with Benji five or more times, FAFSA completion rates were 13% higher than those who didn’t engage.

We know how many challenges the high school graduating class of 2024 faces as they prepare for postsecondary education. That’s why Education Forward Arizona has developed innovative solutions to help them through the complicated process and ensure they can access the aid they deserve. Seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to enroll in postsecondary education immediately.

To ensure more students get the assistance they need, Education Forward Arizona is also working closely with partners – including the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), the Arizona FAFSA Coalition, Helios Education Foundation, Aliento and the Arizona Governor’s Office – to support Finish Line to the FAFSA, a statewide campaign to boost FAFSA completion rates. 

Other tools that can help families finish the FAFSA include:

• In-person FAFSA completion workshops (upcoming dates: May 25 at South Mountain Community College, June 1 at Mesa City Center, June 15 at Capital One Café, June 22 at College Depot, June 29 at Estrella Mountain Community College). To sign up and for more information: collegereadyaz.com/fafsa.

• Enhanced FAFSA completion, next steps and messaging for students through the statewide Ask Benji Chatbot.

• The College Ready AZ website, through ABOR, offers timely FAFSA resources and events for students, families, and educators.

• Statewide implementation of a dynamically updated FAFSA Resource Hub to provide practitioners with the tools needed to support students and families in FAFSA completion.

If none of these tools are right for your family, your child’s high school counselor could also be a resource to connect with.

This year has been different because the U.S. Department of Education released a new version of the FAFSA, designed to streamline the process and increase the number of students eligible for federal student aid. 

Unfortunately, students and families across the nation have experienced multiple technical issues when trying to use the new federal system. The result is that significantly fewer students have completed the FAFSA this year. But applications are still open and there’s still funding for postsecondary education for those who qualify.

We want every Arizona student to secure funding for the postsecondary paths that will enable them to develop the skills needed to succeed in a career. And as beneficial as it is to individual students and families, it’s an even bigger boon our economy. 

Findings from the recent study Billions to Gain, conducted in partnership with the Helios Education Foundation, show that with a 20% increase in enrollment, Arizona would gain more than $5 billion per high school cohort from higher lifetime earnings, better health and increased workforce productivity. 

Not to mention the fact that those with a bachelor’s degree will earn more than twice as much as high school graduates over their lifetime. 

Rich Nickel is president and CEO of Education Forward Arizona.  

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