A group of public universities in Tennessee is urging students to take advantage of the chance to secure thousands of dollars in financial aid by applying for the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
FAFSA allows students to receive federal grants, work-study funds, and loans. Colleges use FAFSA information to determine a student’s eligibility for state and school aid. The process is estimated to take less than an hour according to the website.
Students bound for a university in the fall have until May 15 to fill out the form.
“We don’t want our student applicants passing up significant financial benefits,” said Austin Peay State University president Dr. Michael Licari. “We see such great potential within the young adults of Tennessee, and failure to submit their FAFSA before the deadline should not be the hurdle that prevents them from achieving their educational dreams.”
Completing the FAFSA will give students attending universities access to different scholarships such as the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, the Tennessee Promise scholarship, Tennessee Reconnect, the Tennessee Student Assistance award, and even scholarships that are exclusive to certain universities.
The 2024-25 FAFSA has new changes as well, including expanded eligibility for federal student aid and a new streamlined user experience. However, those updates caused delays and glitches, resulting in the application portal opening later than usual.
The Four the Future initiative is a group of ten public Tennessee universities focused on promoting the value of a four-year degree. The initiative is led by the presidents of each participating universities. Each university is currently offering resources and assistance to fill out the form.
“Some may be the first in their family to attend college and may need help navigating the form,” said Middle Tennessee State University President Dr. Sidney McPhee. “To assist anyone who needs help, our schools have compiled a single destination of resources for Tennessee college applicants that will empower our applicants to quickly complete their FAFSA.”
