Fewer graduating high school seniors are applying for financial aid to begin college in the fall. That could mean fewer college students across Oklahoma.
The number of high school seniors filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - commonly called FAFSA - is down 20 percent in Oklahoma, when compared to the same time last year.
State schools superintendent Joy Hofmeister urged students to do something about that in a public service announcement Wednesday.
"I strongly encourage Oklahomans in their high school senior year to file their FAFSA form to help defray or in some cases completely cover the costs of postsecondary education," Hofmeister said.
The decline in students filling out a federal aid application isn’t unique to Oklahoma. There’s an almost 10 percent drop in applications nationwide when compared to the same time last year.
Any student who wishes to fill out a FAFSA form can visit studentaid.gov.
OK has seen a 20% drop in @FAFSA forms filed by high school seniors compared to this time last year. 😱 Plz share the video below & encourage seniors to fill out the FAFSA, which could be the key to going to college for many students, at https://t.co/VLXlzWFEhA. #oklaed @joy4ok pic.twitter.com/bVPTIGsHDR
— OK State Dept of Ed (@oksde) March 3, 2021
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