"Nearly three-quarters of California public high school seniors applied for federal financial aid this year, soaring past last year's figures by 11% and giving further indication that California's efforts to get more students to apply for federal grants are paying off. This time last year about 307,000 high school seniors completed a financial aid application. This year, that number is around 340,000. The California Student Aid Commission that oversees college aid in the state released the information today."
"In 2023 a slightly higher share of seniors completed aid applications - about 74% to this year's 72.7%. In 2024, the figure was 64%. "We must take a moment to reflect and celebrate this achievement for California's future," said Daisy Gonzales, the commission's executive director and who formerly led the state's community college system, said in a statement. "With more high school seniors applying for financial aid, we can expect our higher education segments to serve more students.""
"A 2021 state law required high schools to ensure their seniors complete financial aid applications. Neglecting to complete the application denies students the ability to receive $22,000 or more in state and federal financial aid in their first year of college. Last year the commission conducted market analysis to understand why parents and students do not apply for aid. Among the answers: families were skeptical that aid can actually be free."
About 340,000 California public high school seniors completed federal financial aid applications in 2024, an 11% increase from roughly 307,000 the previous year. The completion rate reached about 72.7% after a dip to 64% in 2022 and compared with about 74% in 2023. A 2021 state law requires high schools to ensure seniors complete aid applications, and failing to do so can cost students access to $22,000 or more in first-year state and federal aid. The commission found some families doubt that aid is truly free. California expects to spend about $2.9 billion on student aid in 2025–26.
Read at The Mercury News
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