27-05-2025
Tennessee leads nation in FAFSA completion
Tennessee students lead the nation in completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, according to the nonprofit National College Attainment Network.
The ranking was announced in a May 21 news release from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, which hailed the ranking as "a major milestone" as the state works to ramp up access to higher education. The application isn't just for securing federal aid — it's also required for all students who wish to receive any form of financial aid for college, including scholarships, grants and other assistance.
"This recognition reflects the hard work of our schools, counselors, and communities across the state," commission director Steven Gentile said in the release. "Being number one in the nation shows what's possible when we prioritize student access to financial aid and higher education."
The news comes after a federal overhaul of the FAFSA led to glitches and delays for students nationwide last year. The issues left financial aid decisions in limbo for millions.
The commission also named 158 high schools statewide as "FAFSA Champions" for the 2024-25 school year in its annual FAFSA Challenge. The winning schools have a 90% or higher FAFSA completion rate or logged at least 5% in year-over-year growth for completion rates.
See the complete list of Tennessee's FAFSA Champions and learn more at
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee leads nation in FAFSA completion
