Resources Found

Policy Report

CA, NJ, NY, OK

Funding, Standards & Curriculum, Students & Families, Teaching Profession

Governors’ Top Education Priorities in 2023 State of the State Addresses

The full report highlights the top seven trends we found across state education-related proposals and features state examples of each.

March 14, 2023

Early Education (P-3), High School, K-12, Postsecondary

Policy Report

Nationwide

New Hampshire Takes First Steps Toward FAFSA Completion Requirement

On Aug. 17, 2021, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed Senate Bill 147 into law, requiring each high school student in the state to complete the Free Application for Federal […]

Nov. 8, 2021

Funding, Postsecondary Affordability, Transitions

Key Takeaways From Louisiana’s FAFSA Now Pilot

Three years after implementing FAFSA as a graduation requirement, Louisiana improved FAFSA completion by more than 24%. The FAFSA Now Pilot, implemented in the 2020-21 academic year, was designed to […]

Oct. 25, 2021

Racial Equity Considerations in FAFSA Completion Policies

In an effort to support students’ transition to postsecondary education, many states are considering policies that would make FAFSA completion mandatory to graduate high school. As states are considering FAFSA […]

Oct. 11, 2021

Funding, Postsecondary Affordability, Students & Families, Transitions

AZ, CA, IN, LA, MD, MS, VA

Iowa Explores Universal FAFSA Completion

In early 2021, staffers at Iowa College Aid planned a series of virtual convenings to elicit a range of perspectives and strategies on raising statewide FAFSA completion rates. The planning […]

Oct. 4, 2021

An Inside Look at FAFSA Completion as a Graduation Requirement

For the past several legislative sessions, state leaders interested in increasing high school seniors’ FAFSA completion rates have considered whether completion should be a graduation requirement. Advocates suggest that a […]

Sept. 27, 2021

AL, CA, CO, IA, IL, IN, LA, MD, NH, TX

Need- and Merit-Based Financial Aid: State Profiles

View individual state profiles on need- and merit-based financial aid policies by selecting a state below, or view 50-State Comparisons on each data point.

Sept. 19, 2021

Individual State Profile

Nationwide

Funding

50-State Comparison: Need- and Merit-Based Financial Aid

States collectively invest over $12 billion a year to support over 4.5 million students through financial aid programs. Most states disburse aid based on students’ financial need, or a measure […]

Sept. 19, 2021

50-State Comparison

Nationwide