NCAN is a nonprofit membership and advocacy association. Our mission is to support members and influence leaders, organizations, policies, and systems across the country to increase equity and excellence in postsecondary degree access and attainment.
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Our Leadership Summit and Executive Retreat returns April 7-8, 2026! Join us in Washington, DC, this spring to make your voice heard about issues affecting your students and communities.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted in July 2025, cuts federal safety net programs by more than $1 trillion over 10 years, cuts that will grow dramatically over time and reduce spending to states. State higher education programs, which are often the first spending category in state budgets to be cut when budgets are tight, are at risk.
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For over a decade, NCAN has argued that a simpler and easier financial aid process would mean more students qualifying for and applying for financial aid, and in the long run, more students believing that college is possible for them. We won that argument. 1.7 million more students were eligible for maximum Pell Grants in the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle - a 27% jump compared to the 2023-24 pre-FAFSA simplification cycle.
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About 33% of the high school class of 2026 has completed a FAFSA through the end of December 2025. This year’s high school seniors are still on-track to set an all-time high for FAFSA completion. This exciting development is welcome news for NCAN members and everyone else who cares about students’ postsecondary futures. Students and families continue to see the value of college, and are voting with their feet.
Read MoreStudents from low-income backgrounds are about half as likely to complete a postsecondary degree or certificate by age 26 as their high-income peers.
Learn MoreNCAN member-served students from low-income high schools were nearly 40% more likely to earn a postsecondary credential within six years.
Learn MoreThe maximum Pell Grant used to be worth more than 75% of the cost of attendance at a public four-year institution. Today, it's worth less than 30%.
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