50% by Fall

Arizona’s FAFSA
Completion Initiative

The “50% by Fall” FAFSA Completion Incentive Program is a statewide initiative designed to significantly boost FAFSA completion rates among Arizona high school seniors during the 2026-2027 FAFSA cycle —particularly those attending Title I schools.

This program offers performance-based financial incentives to high schools that meet key FAFSA completion benchmarks. All Title I schools and Arizona public high schools that achieved less than 50% FAFSA completion during the 2025-2026 FAFSA cycle are eligible to participate.

How schools can sign up to participate:

To participate in the “50% by Fall” FAFSA Incentive Program, schools must:

To complete a brief the online pledge to register your school by October 1

Information required includes school details, a primary point of contact and agreement to the program’s goals and timeline.

Have an active Arizona College Connect (ACC) data sharing agreement on file

This enables accurate and timely FAFSA completion tracking. The commitment form and additional program details will be distributed to district leadership, school administrators, and counselors, and will be made available via the Arizona College Connect website and FAFSA Coalition communications.

Incentive Structure

How Schools Can Earn Funding for FAFSA Efforts

Participating schools can qualify for one of two different incentives. Whichever goal your school achieves first by December 31, 2025, will determine your school’s incentive eligibility:

50% FAFSA Completion Goal: Schools that reach at least 50% FAFSA completion by December 31 will receive funding in early January, based on their 12th-grade enrollment.
10% FAFSA Growth Goal: Schools that increase their FAFSA completion rate by 10% in the first three months of this FAFSA cycle (through December 31) compared to the same time frame in the previous cycle will also qualify to receive funding in early January, based on their 12th-grade enrollment.

Reach a 50% FAFSA Completion Rate by Dec 31, 2025

Increase your FAFSA completion rate by 10% in the first three months (Dec 31st) compared to the first three months of the previous FAFSA cycle.

Why the FAFSA matters:

Students who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to enroll in postsecondary education immediately after high school.
In 2024, Arizona ranked near the bottom nationally in FAFSA completion—leaving behind over $120 million in Federal Pell grants on the table.
Early FAFSA completion is correlated with higher enrollment, better college planning, and greater access to grants—not just loans.
Targeted support for Title I schools helps address persistent equity gaps in college access and affordability.

The “50 by Fall” initiative for the Class of 2026 is designed to provide participating schools with strategic, hands-on support and FAFSA-specific resources to maximize their success.

Participating schools will receive:

A FAFSA resource toolkit tailored to Arizona schools.
Customized strategies and technical assistance from FAFSA experts.
Access to best practices and collaboration with high-performing schools statewide.
Student-level FAFSA completion data tracking tools and access to new texting and email features in Arizona College Connect.
Recognition and funding to support school’s FAFSA initi9atives in spring, summer and in the next FAFSA cycle.

FAQs

What if my high school signs up but doesn’t reach either goal?

A: There is no penalty for not reaching either goal.

How do we know what our high school’s FAFSA completion rate was last year in the first three months to double our rate?

A: Once you register your school, you will receive a personalized Welcome letter with this information

When do schools who have reached their goals receive the incentive funding?

A: The funding will be initiated and disbursed in January 2026

What can we use the funding for?

A: The funding is intended to be used during the Spring 2026 semester to support activities that help students complete the FAFSA and pursue college and career opportunities.

Here are some examples of how the funds can be used:

Hiring additional staff (temporary or part-time) to assist students with FAFSA completion.
Hosting FAFSA completion events or workshops at your school.
Creating and distributing promotional materials (flyers, posters, digital ads) to raise awareness about FAFSA deadlines and benefits.
Covering costs for training counselors or staff on FAFSA updates or college/career readiness programs.
Setting up a dedicated FAFSA help station or drop-in center on campus.
Offering transportation for students and families to FAFSA events or college/career fairs.