Rhode Island First in the Nation for FAFSA Completion Improvement

Published on Thursday, January 23, 2020

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (OPC), and the College Planning Center of Rhode Island visited Hope High School in Providence this morning to highlight the importance of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). At the event, students learned more about free FAFSA resources, including the state’s FAFSA Dashboard that shows the percentage of high school seniors who have completed the federal aid application, broken down by school.



Rhode Island is ranked first in the nation for year-over-year improvement in FAFSA completion rates, and has set a goal of 70 percent completion at every public high school. Statewide, 44 percent of seniors have completed the FAFSA to date this year, which is an increase of 6 percentage points over this time last year. In 2019, 66 percent of seniors completed the FAFSA.



"The high cost of tuition should not prevent Rhode Island students from pursuing higher education. If a young person in our state wants to go to college, they should have that opportunity,” said Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “We need to make those dreams a reality, and that means promoting resources like the FAFSA, providing free early college experiences for our students while they’re still in high school, and investing in programs like Promise to make college more affordable. I’m thrilled that Rhode Island is leading the nation in our efforts to increase FAFSA completion, and I hope a record number of young people continue their education thanks in part to these resources.”



Completing the FAFSA is a gateway for not only federal financial aid, but also grants, scholarships, and work-study. Students who complete the FAFSA can receive up to $6,195 per year in federal Pell grants.



“Every year, millions of dollars are left on the table nationally from students not filling out the FAFSA. Students and families need to know what resources are available, understand how to access them, and feel confident in pursuing postsecondary pathways,” said Angélica Infante-Green, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “I’m grateful to the many teachers, administrators, school counselors, and community partners that have made college access a priority. Thank you for helping Rhode Island to move the needle, and for making college more affordable for so many of our students.”



“Filling out the FAFSA helps to give students access to so many resources that will help pay for college, including the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship at the Community College of Rhode Island,” said Ron Cavallaro, Acting Commissioner of Postsecondary Education. “We want all of our students to take advantage of every opportunity available to them to obtain a degree or credential of value, and our efforts to increase FASFA awareness and completion will ensure that more Rhode Island students are able fulfill their dream of continuing their education after high school. Thank you to everyone who is contributing to this work. It is achieving results, and moving us closer to our ambitious goal of 70% of Rhode Islanders having a degree or credential of value by 2025.”



Increasing FAFSA awareness and completion is a goal through Prepare Rhode Island (PrepareRI), the state’s initiative for college and career readiness. On the PrepareRI website, students can access a FAFSA toolkit that includes information on application requirements, instructions on how to navigate the platform, an explanation of the different types of financial assistance for college, and links and contact information for community organizations that can further assist with college access.



Representatives from the College Planning Center of Rhode Island met with students after today’s program to help them complete their FAFSA. At Hope High School, school counselors are also available to students every Tuesday after school to support students in their post-secondary planning.



“At Hope High School, our students come from all walks of life and H.O.P.E. - Having Only Positive Expectations - is a mantra we all strive for. For many Hope High School families, financial aid can turn college dreams into a reality. This is why our guidance team has committed so much time in assisting our students and families with FAFSA,” said Matthew Buchanan, M.Ed., principal at Hope High School. “FAFSA completion has become a top priority at Hope High School. It is our mission to help all students have access to college.”



In Providence, specifically, through a partnership with the Gates Foundation, $500 prizes will be awarded to the high schools with the highest FAFSA completion rate among seniors, and high schools with the greatest improvement over 2019, as of April 24, 2020.



For more information on the state’s FAFSA completion resources, visit www.Prepare-RI.org/FAFSA