THEC launches 'FAFSA Frenzy' resources to help students apply for financial aid

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) is partnering with several education and community organizations across the state to launch its “FAFSA Frenzy” campaign to provide support to students and families completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

According to a THEC announcement last week, Tennessee already ranks first in the nation for its percentage of high school seniors who have completed this year’s FAFSA. However, the announcement noted that the latest national report from the National College Attainment Network shows that just 58.5 percent of the state’s Class of 2024 high school graduates have completed the FAFSA so far this year – representing an 11 percent decline since this time last year. It said the FAFSA Frenzy campaign aims to encourage class of '24 high school graduates to finish their FAFSA before the August 1 Tennessee Promise scholarship deadline.

“With the delayed rollout of the new FAFSA this year, the Class of 2024 has experienced some unanticipated challenges in completing their FAFSA. However, we don't want them to miss out on free financial aid and a lifetime of opportunities that a college degree or job training credential beyond high school can provide,” Steven Gentile, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, said in a public statement. "That's why partners across the state are coming together for a final push, offering direct support and assistance with the FAFSA to students and their families throughout July, ensuring no one is left behind."

The initiative comes shortly after the U.S. Department of Education delayed revisions to the FAFSA last year for the upcoming school year, giving college advisors less time to begin assisting the 20 million students that typically apply for financial aid nationally. The move also comes after Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act, pushed forward by former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., to reduce the number of questions on the FAFSA form, which had often been criticized as being "too complicated."

According to the THEC announcement, students and families can quickly get step-by-step help with the FAFSA application and ask questions about the process at CollegeTN.org, where visitors can also find a calendar of in-person events hosted by community colleges and partner organizations to provide FAFSA support.

“Many students, especially those who might be the first in their family to even consider college, simply don’t realize they are leaving thousands of dollars on the table in financial aid if they fail to complete the FAFSA,” Gentile said.  “That’s why we are launching this special campaign, and encouraging everyone to join in.”

According to additional research from the NCAN noted in the announcement, 92 percent of high school seniors who completed the FAFSA enrolled by the November following graduation vs. 51 percent who didn’t complete a FAFSA. It said that before this year, THEC noted significant momentum in increasing the state’s college-going rate, highlighted by a 2.4 percentage point increase for the class of 2023 over the class of 2022.

The state’s 56.7 percent college-going rate for the class of 2023 represented the largest year-over-year increase since the initial implementation of the tuition-free Tennessee Promise scholarship in 2015, the announcement added.

“We want to maintain Tennessee’s college going momentum and the opportunities it creates for students and our state. We don’t want to leave anyone behind,” Gentile said.