Latest news with #FAFSA
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
After FAFSA hiccups, more WV students completing the financial aid application
West Virginia's Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion rate stands at 49.8%. (Getty Images) More West Virginia students are completing the college financial aid application, known as the FAFSA, following pandemic interruptions and nationwide issues with the form over the last year. According to data tracked by the National College Attainment Network, the state's Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion rate stands at 49.8%. The state now ranks 15th in the nation for students completing the FAFSA, which is up from 19th last year, according to a news release from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Brian Weingart, senior director of financial aid at the commission, said the HEPC has worked side-by-side with schools, counselors and communities to make sure students had 'a clever path to financial aid.' HEPC credits the success to statewide partnerships. 'Whether it's through hands-on FAFSA events, real-time data tools, or text message nudges, we're meeting students where they are and helping them take that critical next step toward college. Behind every completed FAFSA is a student who's one step closer to their future,' he said. The federal government's 2024 botched rollout of the new FAFSA form prompted former Gov. Jim Justice to declare a state of emergency and suspended a requirement that college-bound high school seniors fill out the FAFSA in order to receive state financial aid, including the state's Promise Scholarship. Unlike some other states, West Virginia didn't have a statewide FAFSA mandate. Instead, the HEPC said it focused on strategic outreach and community engagement. A WV FAFSA day in February brought together more than 50 high schools and colleges. The organization also used 'TXT 4 Success,' a text message program that provides personalized guidance and nudges to help students stay on track with financial aid deadlines. 'West Virginia's success, and approach, offer a lot for other communities and states to learn from,' said Bill DeBaun, senior director at the National College Attainment Network in Washington. 'Thoughtful, coordinated efforts like these that support practitioners in districts and schools make a big difference.' West Virginia's Chancellor of Higher Education Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker added, 'We built momentum through strong partnerships with our schools and counselors, innovative tools and a shared commitment to our students' futures. I am deeply proud of our team and the many school counselors, educators, and families who have rallied around this cause. Together, we're showing what's possible when we put students first.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Adults 25-55 Now Eligible for free industry-specific degrees, at JCC via SUNY program
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Adults ages 25 through 55 are now eligible for no-cost, industry-specific degrees at Jefferson Community College via the SUNY Reconnect Program. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the 'New York State Opportunity Promise' initiative recognizes that higher education is a pathway to economic opportunity and upward mobility. The state launched SUNY Reconnect, a program designed to remove barriers for adult learners ages 25–55. JCC offers free tuition to boost education in key fields Via the program, eligible state residents who have not yet earned a college degree can, after filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), receive extra funding to cover any additional costs for tuition, fees and books. Students will not have to take out loans. Jefferson Community College is proud to support Governor Hochul's bold vision to expand access to higher education for adult learners through the SUNY Reconnect initiative. We remain committed to providing the guidance, flexibility, and academic excellence necessary to help students achieve their educational and career goals. Jefferson Community College President Dr. Daniel Dupee Dedicated advising will be available for those entering the SUNY Reconnect program to help guide students through the course selection and scheduling process, to help alleviate the stress of trying to fit college into a busy lifestyle, for those who work full or part time and have family commitments outside the classroom. As part of the SUNY Reconnect initiative, here are the following JCC programs are eligible: Childhood Education, A.A. Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 2, A.A. Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 6, A.A. Nursing, A.A.S. Computer Information Technology, A.A.S. Computer Information Systems, A.S. Computer Science, A.S. Engineering Science, A.S. To learn more about SUNY Reconnect and eligible programs at JCC, contact enrollment services at (315) 786-2437. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
West Virginia among top states for FAFSA completion
CHARLESTON, (WBOY) — West Virginia now ranks 15th in the nation for FAFSA completion, even without a statewide FAFSA mandate. According to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, West Virginia accomplished the number through strategic outreach, data-driven coordination and intentional community engagement. Some of the approaches include: The WV FAFSA Day, which brings together multiple high schools and colleges and increases public visibility The CFWV Champions of College Access and Success Challenge, which rewards schools for FAFSA completion benchmarks TXT 4 Success, a text message program that provides guidance to students Special tools and resources for counselors, including a FAFSA completion portal and regular updates Bill DeBaun, Senior Director at the National College Attainment Network in Washington, was happy to see West Virginia's numbers. These are the best schools in West Virginia, new 2025 report says 'West Virginia's success, and approach, offer a lot for other communities and states to learn from,' DeBaun said. 'Thoughtful, coordinated efforts like these that support practitioners in districts and schools make a big difference. West Virginia is expanding students' opportunities to access the financial aid that makes education after high school a more affordable possibility.' The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is what high school seniors fill out to learn if they are eligible for grants, scholarships, work-study programs and loans for college or career school. You can learn more about the FAFSA, its requirements and deadlines here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Minnesota Sees Strong Growth In Its Direct College Admissions Program
Minnesota's direct college admissions program continues to grow, with 245 more high schools set to ... More participate this fall. The state of Minnesota is seeing continued growth in its direct admissions program, an initiative that enables high school seniors to be proactively admitted to participating colleges and universities in the state without having to formally apply first. The program, first recommended by Governor Tim Walz in 2021 and enacted by the Minnesota legislature that same year, is a strategy to boost college access for Minnesota students by streamlining the admissions process and paving a much easier path to starting a college education. Each fall, students at participating high schools are sent a personalized letter indicating the Minnesota colleges and universities that are offering them proactive admissions based on their academic record. Students can then select the college that fits them best and complete an application knowing they will be accepted. The program also waives application fees, removing one financial barrier for students considering college. Since the program was first established, participation in direct admissions has grown each year. The first year had 31 participating high schools with 11,931 eligible students. During the upcoming 2025-26 academic year, 245 high schools will participate, reaching more than 37,000 eligible students. That number represents an increase of more than 60 schools over the 2024-25 school year. 'With Direct Admissions, we're removing the anxiety and cost of applying to college,' Minnesota Office of Higher Education Commissioner Dennis Olson said in a news release. 'Our goal is for every student in the state to see themselves as college material, whether that's a bachelor's degree, associate's degree, certificate, or diploma. I am ecstatic to see more high schools joining the program this fall and hope every student at these schools participates in the program. According to a February, 2025 program report, students who participated in the program have a higher rate of enrolling in a Minnesota college as well as a higher rate of completing the FAFSA, a key indicator for whether a student will begin a college education. For example, during the 2023-24 school year, 76% of students attending a direct admissions high school filed a FAFSA, compared to a 50% completion rate among all of the state's graduating seniors. In addition, 46% of students at participating high schools enrolled in a Minnesota college after graduation, compared to 28% of non-participating 12th grade students. Direct admissions has also helped promote college attendance for students who've been historically excluded in higher education. In 2024-25, 182 high schools participated in the program, enrolling an estimated 31,172 senior students. Almost half of enrolled seniors (43%) at those schools were Black, Indigenous, and/or students of color. Over a third of enrolled seniors (36%) at participating schools were eligible for free and reduced-price meals. All these populations of students saw higher rates of FAFSA completion and enrollment at a Minnesota college compared to non-participating students with the same demographics. Idaho was one of the first states to introduce a direct college admissions program, rolling it out in 2015. Initial evaluations show that it yielded an increase in first-time undergraduate enrollments by more than 8% and in-state student enrollments by almost 12%. Since then, private companies and other states have jumped into the direct admissions business. For example, the Common Application (Common App) piloted a direct admissions program since 2021, offering admission to students who created a Common App account and provided enough academic information but had not yet completed all of their open applications. It has since expanded the program. Other companies, like Niche, Concourse and SAGE scholars have also entered the market, and an increasing number of colleges have come on board. How much direct admissions would change the college application landscape has always been unclear. But with colleges and universities facing the upcoming demographic cliff where the number of graduating high school senior will begin a decline expected to last more than a decade, look for more institutions to turn to strategies like it as they attempt to boost their enrollment numbers.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BBB: New graduates become targets for scammers during end of school season
HONOLULU (KHON2) – While many new graduates enter the job market or search for their first rental property away from home, the local Better Business Bureau warns that scammers may be targeting these young adults. Experts share tips on how to navigate today's job market as graduation season is upon us Cameron Nakashima from Better Business Bureau identified three types: Fake Job Offers Scammers impersonate real companies or create fake ones. They offer remote jobs or 'hiring now' roles via email, text message, or social media. After a short 'interview,' victims are offered the job—but must provide sensitive information or pay for training or equipment. Student Loan Forgiveness Scams: They mimic federal programs or call pretending to be with the U.S. Department of Education. They claim they can reduce monthly payments or eliminate loans altogether—for a fee. Victims are pressured to act quickly and give up FAFSA credentials. Rental Scams Scammers copy real listings or invent fake ones, post them on social sites or rental apps, and collect deposits before disappearing. First-time renters are especially vulnerable because they often don't know what a legitimate lease process looks like. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Nakashima said to prevent falling into these schemes, you need to pay attention. Watch out when people reach out to you – especially via text. Across the board, recent graduates and young adults report the primary method of losing money to scammers is through text messages and with digital payments and payment apps. Do your research on the company. Look up its website, look for the address and contact info – does it all look legit? For example, for student loan forgiveness, that should be a government website (.gov). If its not, that's suspicious. If the website looks good though, you should also check them out on and other online reporting agencies to learn what people and professionals have to say about those businesses. Listen to your gut if something seems off – and get a trusted second opinion. If you feel like something is not quite right about an opportunity or offer but can't put your finger on it, get a second opinion. You can ask a friend of family member or you can even call your local BBB office and we can give you advice based on our database of information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
