January 31, 2023
The high school class of 2022 left about $3.6 billion in Pell Grants on the table by not completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), according to a new analysis by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN).
Federal financial aid helps make postsecondary education more affordable for millions of students each year. But, for a variety of reasons, students do not always apply for it. This oversight results in billions of dollars of unclaimed Pell Grants and may limit students’ consideration of all postsecondary pathways available to them.
“Today's findings are bittersweet. The class of 2022's FAFSA completion increase means more students are accessing the Pell Grant, but so many students across the country are still not getting the financial aid that could put a postsecondary pathway within reach," said NCAN CEO Kim Cook.