67 Cities Apply for FAFSA Challenge Grants

By Sara Melnick, Deputy Director

NCAN is pleased to announce that 67 of 118 invited U.S. cities applied for the FAFSA Completion Challenge Grant! The list of 118 invited cities was determined using the Census Bureau's 2014 estimated population data and includes the 100 largest cities by population size plus the most populous city in each state state. Applications came from 43 states plus Puerto Rico. Through this project, generously supported by The Kresge Foundation, NCAN is challenging cities to increase FAFSA completion rates by at least 5 percent for the graduating high school class of 2017.

Increasing FAFSA completion is essential because of its close correlation with postsecondary enrollment and completion. Unfortunately, among the high school senior class of 2014, approximately 45 percent of graduates did not complete the FAFSA. Many of them would have qualified for federal, state, and institutional grants for college. 

The large number of FAFSA Challenge grant applications is a testament to the enormous level of excitement and engagement about increasing FAFSA completion. We applaud the work that is going on nationwide and are eager to see what is to come next.

NCAN will evaluate the applications with the assistance of a distinguished advisory committee:

• Lindsay Ahlman, TICAS
• Caroline Altman Smith, Kresge Foundation
• Sarah Bauder, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Eddie Brambila, Illinois Student Assistance Commission
• Diane Corbett, Ohio State University
• Denise Davis, Educate Texas/TxCAN
• Jennier Dunn, College Board
• Juan Garcia, ACT
• Haley Glover, Lumina Foundation
• Sarah Kirschenbaum, ECMC Foundation
• Troy Miller, Florida College Access Network
• Ed Pacchetti, Office of Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education
• Lindsay Page, University of Pittsburgh
• Pat Roe, USA Funds
• Sarah Weiss, Washington Student Achievement Council

In May, NCAN will announce the 20 cities selected from these 67 to receive grants of up to $55,000 each to support innovative cross-sector FAFSA completion strategies. In the meantime, please help us congratulate the 67 cities listed below that applied for this opportunity.