STATESVILLE, N.C. — Each year, the federal government sets aside $150 billion in financial aid, but many students miss out because they don’t fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.

What You Need To Know

The priority deadline for FAFSA is March 1. The application period will stay open through June 30

There are many financial aid options available to students who complete the FAFSA form, such as grants, scholarships and work-study programs

A spokesperson for the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) says every student should apply for financial aid regardless of their income

In North Carolina, 58% of eligible students completed their FAFSA form in 2020, according to myFutureNC.

Rose Botaish helps graduating students at Statesville High School navigate their college applications and apply for financial aid. She wants to make sure they don’t miss out, especially since aid is handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“A lot of people don’t even know [FAFSA] exists,” Botaish said.

Botaish says some students don’t apply for FAFSA because they don’t think they’re eligible or they run into issues filling out the form, such as website glitches or how to access their financial information.

Less than 50% of graduating students at Statesville High School have completed their FAFSA forms so far, according to Botaish.

“I think we’re getting there slowly,” Botaish said. “There’s a lot of students that have started it, and then we hit one of those barriers where we just can’t get past the parent section, or they’re having trouble with their FAFSA ID.”

Botaish is a member of Davidson College’s Advising Corps. She’s one of 12 recent Davidson graduates spread out across the Piedmont to help students at under-resourced high schools through the complex process of applying to college.

“I had the benefits of going to a private high school [in Colorado],” Botaish said. “So I wanted to be able to give back and share those opportunities to those who might not have them.”

Botaish works closely with Statesville High School’s counseling staff. She’s taking a lot off counselor Leslie Rucker’s plate when it comes to preparing students for their next chapter.

“On any given day I could be tied down with enrollments, dealing with a lot of different things,” Rucker said. “So having Rose, we tag team and collaborate to make sure we get it done.”

Rucker says it’s helping as 65.9% of Stateville High School’s graduating class completed their FAFSA applications in 2021, an 11.3% increase from the year before.

The school was awarded a $500 FAFSA Innovation Grant by myFutureNC for its work to increase completed applications.

“We have a lot of things that we don’t get to celebrate,” Rucker said. “And that was a really big win for us.”  

There are many financial aid options available to parents and students who complete the FAFSA form, other than loans.

Federal and state grants are available, including the Federal Pell Grant, which depending on their finances, undergraduate students can get up to nearly $6,500 of aid that they don’t have to pay back.

Students can apply for work-study programs, which are part-time jobs, to help pay for their education.

And completed FAFSA forms mean access to scholarship opportunities. Botaish says some schools require FAFSA, even for merit-based scholarships.

Timeka Ruffin, a spokesperson for the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC), says every student should apply for financial aid regardless of their income.

“Most people think it takes hours to do,” Ruffin said. “I always say, look if you’ve got 20 to 25 minutes – we can get it done.”

Ruffin says the federal government is working to shorten the student aid application and simplify some questions.

In the meantime, Ruffin encourages students to reach out to their high school counselors or college advisers if they have any questions about the form. Home-schooled students can reach out to a local financial aid office, such as a community college, for help as well.

The priority deadline for students going to a four-year school is March 1. The application period will stay open through June 30.

For tips on filling out the FAFSA form, visit CFNC’s website. To access the FAFSA form, visit studentaid.gov