FAFSA filings are down 15.5% on year over year basis. We all know the consequences of students failing to file a FAFSA and the importance of filing early. Some awards have limited resources, and those who wait until the last minute to file could be out of luck as funding dries up. 

Here are three interactives you can use to nudge your students to file a FAFSA now.

• FAFSA Tracker - The #FormYourFuture FAFSA Tracker is an interactive data dashboard that tracks and ranks states’ progress toward 100% of their high school seniors completing the FAFSA and measures change year over year in real-time. This interactive could be used as a discussion starter. 
• FAFSA Deadlines - While the federal deadline for the FAFSA is June 30th, state deadlines can vary depending on which state you legally reside in. Use this tool to find out when the state deadline is for your state. This interactive is just one part of an NGPF Activity, RESEARCH: FAFSA Deadlines. 
• 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid - You know that the FAFSA is the key to getting financial aid. But what exactly is “financial aid”? Read through the slides in this College Board interactive slideshow to find out! This interactive is just one part of our lesson Gateway to Financial Aid. 

5 Bonus FAFSA Resources

• NGPF On-Demand: Brush Up on FAFSA - Learn about the importance and basics of the FAFSA by completing this one-hour On-Demand module (available until December 1st)
• Video: FAFSA Overview - Next Gen Personal Finance Ed Puzzle
• Video: After the FAFSA: What Happens Next - 3-minute video explainer 
• Question of the Day: How much free financial aid is lost to families who do not file the FAFSA?
• Question of the Day (Updated): How many seniors in your high school completed the FAFSA last year?

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Be sure to include the NGPF Arcade game, Payback, with your paying for college lessons. 

About the Author

Brian Page

Making a difference in the lives of students through financial capability is Brian’s greatest passion. He comes to NGPF after fifteen years of public school teaching where he was the ‘11 Ohio Department of Education recipient of a Milken National Educator Award, the CEE Forbes Award winner, and a Money Magazine/CNN "Money Hero". He served on the working group for President Obama's Advisory Council on Financial Capability. He has private school experience as a Trustee for the Cincinnati Country Day School and was a past Ohio Jump$tart President. Brian holds a BBA and M.Ed. When Brian isn’t working alongside his NGPF teammates he is likely spending time with his wife, three children, and dog; hiking, or watching Ohio State football.