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FAFSA Resource Library

NCAN's FAFSA Resource Library

Note: NCAN is aware that the Better FAFSA will impact a lot of these materials with regard to FAFSA specifics, but we think there continues to be value in many of the community-based approaches and resources contained on this page.

For many students, financial aid makes the difference in college enrollment and completion – and that is particularly true for students from families with low incomes and first-generation college-bound students.

But each year, millions of students who are eligible for financial aid do not file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), leaving “money on the table” that could be supporting their postsecondary education. We can change that.

NCAN's FAFSA Resource Library contains effective practices and key resources for cities, communities, and school districts looking to create or strengthen a FAFSA completion initiative.

Together, we can make sure every student has every postsecondary opportunity within reach.

We are grateful to Ascendium Education Group and the Kresge Foundation for their support of NCAN's FAFSA completion efforts over the past several years, including this resource library.

FAFSA Planning Calendar 📅

It's important to offer students the right type of assistance at just the right moment. This calendar will help communities think through the timing of specific support activities during the FAFSA completion cycle.

Laying the Groundwork/Engaging Partners 🤝

The first steps in any FAFSA completion initiative involve planning as well as identifying and securing the buy-in/engagement of partners. We offer tips on how to lay a strong foundation for your community's FAFSA completion work.

Completing the Form 📝

Keeping up with changes to the FAFSA and helping your students and families through the process is at the core of your FAFSA completion efforts. We offer information and how-tos about the latest FAFSA form.

Training and Capacity Building 📚

Who needs to be trained on guiding students and families through the FAFSA completion process? Where can you find training materials? We answer these questions and more.

Communication 📱

It's important to deliver messages that will resonate with students and families using communication vehicles that will actually reach them. We have tips, sample social media posts, and more.

Accessing and Using Data 📊

Using student-level FAFSA completion data will improve the efficiency of your efforts. We offer advice on how to secure and make the most of these data.

More Resources: Form Your Future 🧰🔧

Form Your Future® is a campaign to increase FAFSA completion by high school seniors.

NCAN's Form Your Future website includes an interactive FAFSA completion tracker, a step-by-step guide to filling out the FAFSA, and more.

Subscribe to FAFSA Reminders 📨

Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter, as well as a monthly email reminder of FAFSA action items.