FAFSA Resources

The 2025/2026 FAFSA is opening December 1st. 

Kansas FAFSA Stats

• As of June 2023, our state-wide FAFSA completion rate was 47%. This is 2% higher* than in 2022. (*National FAFSA Tracker)
• As of August 2024, our state-wide FAFSA completion rate is at 44%.  This is 12% lower compared to this time last year (*National FAFSA Tracker)
• Our goal is for all Kansas high schools to move toward a FAFSA completion rate of 70% in the next five years.
• In 2023, there were 96 Kansas High Schools with a FAFSA Completion percentage above 60%. 

Financial aid is money to help students pay for college. It can be in different forms and come from various sources. Completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application is often considered the first step in making education after high school possible for students. Completing the financial aid application qualifies students for federal, state, and institutional funding that can make college more affordable. Student may be surprised by what they qualify for! 

Check out the FAFSA Completion Challenge for data on high school submission and completion rates.

FAFSA completion is strongly associated with postsecondary enrollment: 92% of seniors who completed the FAFSA enrolled by the November following graduation vs. 51% who did not complete a FAFSA.

FAFSA Filing College Priority Dates

Data access request

To see your high school's individual student FAFSA submission list, please fill out the attachment and send your request to Linda Oldham Burns This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2025 FAFSA Resources

• KASFAA High School Counselor Training
• Who is my parent tool
• Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel (short, instructional videos designed to use with students & families)
• FAFSA Completion walkthrough from Common App, March 20, 2024
• Federal Student Aid Resource Page (videos, brochures & tools to use with your students)
• Types of Federal Student Aid
• Student/Parent/Counselor Resources
• Better FAFSA Better Kansas logo
• FAFSA “How To” Videos
• Student and Parent Resources Toolkit 

• FAFSA walkthrough in Spanish  

Social Media Toolkits:

• #DOTHEFAFSA Social Media Toolkit
• US Department of Ed's Financial Aid Toolkit
• SHEEO FAFSA Social Press Kit

Resources specific to the FAFSA changes:

• Step by step example of the 2024-2025 FAFSA
• NCAN Better FAFSA Training Toolkit (many instructional tools and resources for counselors to use with students)
  • FAFSA Simplification: Old vs. New Fact Sheet
  • 2024-2025 FAFSA Checklist
  • FSA ID Handout & FSA ID How-to Guide

2024 FAFSA Resources

KBOR led a FAFSA Events Working Group that focused on developing strategies to enhance and promote FAFSA completion efforts across the state, in partnership with the Kansas Research and Extension office and KASFAA. Here are some 2024 initiatives: 

• Lunch & Learn: FAFSA For Educators 
• Sending FAFSA submissions to high schools
• FAFSA Completion Challenge
• Disseminating a current list of public FAFSA Completion Events from higher education institutions across the state 
• Virtual FAFSA Completion Assistance week (to be offered annually in the fall and spring)
• FAFSA updates are posted on the Apply Kansas facebook and sent out on a KSDE listserv to high schools
• FAFSA Completion Event Summer Grants and marketing campaign
• Making FAFSA training available to extension agents in all 105 counties to assist with FAFSA completion
  • List of current Kansas Research and Extension offices offering FAFSA completion assistance
    
    

Lunch & Learn: FAFSA for Educators (Details & Recording)
Educators working with high school students are invited to join KBOR and KASFAA on a Thursday over lunch to learn more about financial aid and ensure students receive the most accurate and up-to-date information. Whether you are seasoned at assisting students with financial aid or new, don’t miss this valuable opportunity to better support your students on their path to higher education.

Topics include: Types of Aid Available, Overview of Eligibility, Typical Timeline, Importance of filling out the FAFSA for all students, and some time for Q&A. 

Virtual FAFSA Completion Assistance Event (Details)
Get your FAFSA questions answered during the FAFSA Completion Assistance drop-in event. Financial Aid experts will be available for one-on-one support for Kansas students and families.

Dates will be scheduled each year around November and March. 

Check out the FAFSA Checklist for a list of required information for FAFSA Completion. 

Hosting a FAFSA Completion event

Steps to host a successful Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion event:

1. Schedule a time (This year: January-April, in a typical year: October-December) when parents & students can meet together for a FAFSA completion event (it might need to be held outside of school hours). Some communities might also choose to do a 2^nd FAFSA event.

2. Contact financial aid representatives from any local community college, technical college, or university to help present information and answer questions for parents during the event.
   • Kansas Financial Aid Offices Resource Guide for a map of local institutions and contact information.

3. Prepare Students for the Event
   • Give students the FAFSA Checklist as a guide
     (This will help families know what information is needed and what questions they will need to be prepared for FAFSA completion day)
   • Provide a lesson about the FAFSA & types of financial aid
     • 2024 What is FAFSA? (video link)
     • Financial Aid/FAFSA resource document
   • Take students through creating their FSA ID prior to the event
     • 2024 FSA ID Instructional video

4. Promote the FAFSA completion day with students and parents.

5. Hold your FAFSA event!
   • Tips for Successful FAFSA Completion (editable)
   • After the FAFSA checklist to send home with students/families (Spanish version of After the FAFSA checklist)