
According to the National College Attainment Networks FAFSA Tracker, Louisiana ranks number one in the country in terms of financial aid completion with 33-thousand of Louisiana’s 2021 high school graduates completing their FAFSA. LOSFA Executive Director Dr. Sujuan Boutte said it’s been a team effort.
“It’s also the fact that we are showing students a value proposition for filing a FAFSA. You’ve got a one-stop-shop that qualifies you for Federal Aid, TOPS, and the GO Grant,” Boutte said.
Louisiana schools require students to fill out the FAFSA forms in order to graduate helping them receive the financial aid they wouldn’t have known about. Boutte said students and parents are getting the message that they should always file the form regardless of their financial situation.
“There’s value in filling out the form to see you’re not leaving money on the table, particularly what we call gift aid which is money you don’t have to pay back,” Boutte said.
Students who have graduated from high school in 2021 have until June 30th, 2022 to complete a FAFSA but Boutte said the earlier one applies the better.
“The later you wait, then you’re going to get that fee bill for college, and that financial aid that you may have qualified for will not be on there if you haven’t filed that FAFSA and if everything is not complete,” Boutte said.
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