Opening up the application date earlier and several awareness campaigns have resulted in an eight percent increase in Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) completion numbers. As of the end of June, almost 22,000 high school seniors in the state had completed applications. Nationwide, the number has risen by nine percent. “These numbers are excellent news for Iowa,” says Karen Misjak, executive director of Iowa College Aid. “Almost half of Iowans who file the FAFSA qualify for the Pell Grant alone, so not filing is tantamount to leaving free money on the table.” A change last fall extended the filing window by three months. Students can now file a FAFSA beginning Oct. 1 for the following academic year.
