INDIANA – Starting next school year, Indiana students will be required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The requirement was approved by both the Indiana Senate and House and signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on Thursday. It applies to all students, with some exceptions, but is not a requirement for high school graduation.
The FAFSA is the form that students need to file to be considered for federal financial aid such as grants, loans, and scholarships, and completion is also considered a leading indicator of college going. The new law would require students to submit the FAFSA by April 15 of their senior year, which is the deadline to be eligible for state aid in addition to federal aid.
And the money isn’t just for two- and four-year institutions. Filling out the FAFSA can also provide funds for students who want to use a Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant for a short- or long-term credential.
According to advocates for the new law, making students fill out the FAFSA, would give students a better picture of the money available to them for college, and hopefully convince more students to enroll in college.
Indiana officials are concerned about the number of students who enroll in college. In the Class of 2020, only 53% of students went on to college, according to state data. States and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for their respective aid programs.
