The 2025/2026 FAFSA is open!
Kansas FAFSA Stats
- As of June 2023, our state-wide FAFSA completion rate was 47%. This is 2% higher* than in 2022. (*National FAFSA Tracker)
- As of September 2024, our state-wide FAFSA completion rate is at 44.8%. This is 9.9% lower compared to this time last year (*National FAFSA Tracker)
- Our goal is for all Kansas high schools to move toward a FAFSA completion rate of 70% in the next five years.
- In 2023, there were 96 Kansas High Schools with a FAFSA Completion percentage above 60%.
Financial aid is money to help students pay for college. It can be in different forms and come from various sources. Completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application is often considered the first step in making education after high school possible for students. Completing the financial aid application qualifies students for federal, state, and institutional funding that can make college more affordable. Student may be surprised by what they qualify for!
Check out the FAFSA Completion Challenge for data on high school submission and completion rates.
FAFSA completion is strongly associated with postsecondary enrollment: 92% of seniors who completed the FAFSA enrolled by the November following graduation vs. 51% who did not complete a FAFSA.
FAFSA Filing College Priority Dates
Data access request
To see your high school's individual student FAFSA submission list, please fill out the attachment and send your request to Linda Oldham Burns
2025 FAFSA Resources
- Free FAFSA Completion Virtual Assistance by Kansas Financial Aid Professionals
- US Department of Ed FAFSA Toolkit (financial aid basics, PD, and resources)
- NCAN FAFSA Resources (Slides for FAFSA presentation, checklist, student aid estimator, who is my parent tool, tips, FAFSA videos, FAFSA prototype simulation, etc)
- KASFAA High School Counselor Training
- Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel (short, instructional videos designed to use with students & families)
- Federal Student Aid Resource Page (English and Spanish resources for: budgeting, types of financial aid, financial aid, etc)
- US Department of Ed Types of Federal Student Aid and Eligibility
Social Media Toolkits:
Hosting a FAFSA Completion event
Steps to host a successful Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion event:
- Schedule a time (This year: January-April, in a typical year: October-December) when parents & students can meet together for a FAFSA completion event (it might need to be held outside of school hours). Some communities might also choose to do a 2nd FAFSA event.
- Contact financial aid representatives from any local community college, technical college, or university to help present information and answer questions for parents during the event.
- Kansas Financial Aid Offices Resource Guide for a map of local institutions and contact information.
- Prepare Students for the Event
- Give students the FAFSA Checklist as a guide
(This will help families know what information is needed and what questions they will need to be prepared for FAFSA completion day) - Provide a lesson about the FAFSA & types of financial aid
- Take students through creating their FSA ID prior to the event
- Give students the FAFSA Checklist as a guide
- Promote the FAFSA completion day with students and parents.
- Hold your FAFSA event!
- Tips for Successful FAFSA Completion (editable)
- After the FAFSA checklist to send home with students/families (Spanish version of After the FAFSA checklist)
2024 FAFSA Resources
KBOR led a FAFSA Events Working Group that focused on developing strategies to enhance and promote FAFSA completion efforts across the state, in partnership with the Kansas Research and Extension office and KASFAA. Here are some 2024 initiatives:
- Lunch & Learn: FAFSA For Educators
- Sending FAFSA submissions to high schools
- FAFSA Completion Challenge
- Disseminating a current list of public FAFSA Completion Events from higher education institutions across the state
- Virtual FAFSA Completion Assistance week
- FAFSA updates are posted on the Apply Kansas facebook and sent out on a KSDE listserv to high schools
- FAFSA Completion Event Summer Grants and marketing campaign
- Making FAFSA training available to extension agents in all 105 counties to assist with FAFSA completion
Lunch & Learn: FAFSA for Educators (Details & Recording)
Educators working with high school students are invited to join KBOR and KASFAA on a Thursday over lunch to learn more about financial aid and ensure students receive the most accurate and up-to-date information. Whether you are seasoned at assisting students with financial aid or new, don’t miss this valuable opportunity to better support your students on their path to higher education.
Topics include: Types of Aid Available, Overview of Eligibility, Typical Timeline, Importance of filling out the FAFSA for all students, and some time for Q&A.
Virtual FAFSA Completion Assistance Event (Details)
Get your FAFSA questions answered during the FAFSA Completion Assistance drop-in event. Financial Aid experts will be available for one-on-one support for Kansas students and families.
Dates will be scheduled each year around November and March.
Check out the FAFSA Checklist for a list of required information for FAFSA Completion.