How Increasing FAFSA Filing Rates Helps Your Students and Institution Julie D. Wilson Director Financial Aid Laramie County Community College

OBJECTIVES The case for increasing filing rates. Impact on students and your institution. Developing a FAFSA filing campaign. Q&A

Benefits to the Institution Improve institutional Net Price Able to request year over year increases in SEOG and Work Study. Able to develop more targeted institutional scholarships and grants. Able to leverage other federal and state resources for students to pay for college. Able to get a better picture of your students (first generation, income levels, special populations). Improve recruitment, retention, and persistence rates. Participate in federal grants and initiatives. Eligible for federal administrative allowances.

Benefits to the Student Reduce student Net Price Maximize financial aid resources. Improve retention and persistence. Receive focused attention if special population. If there is a financial emergency, appeals can be done more quickly.

The Difference to Students Pell SEOG Work Study Federal Student Loans Federal Parent Loans Hathaway Need

Awarding Hathaway Need EFC HATHAWAY $1680 HATHAWAY $2520 HATHAWAY $3360 $ 1680 Hathaway $ 5775 Pell Grant $ 972 Hathaway Need $ 8427 Total $ 2520 Hathaway $ 762 Hathaway Need $ 9057 Total $ 3360 Hathaway $ 2209 Hathaway Need $11344 1-5101 $ 5725-626 Pell $984-2259 HNeed $4565-8389 Total $2520 Hathaway $5725-626 Pell $774-2049 HNeed $5195-9019 Total $3360 Hathaway $2259-7358 HNeed $11344 Total 5102-11744 $1680 Hathaway $1560-100 HNeed $1780-3240 Total   $930-100 HNeed $2620-3450 Total $2882-400 HNeed $3760-6242 Total 11744+ or no FAFSA

The Difference Real Student Example--Hathaway Need Without FAFSA Lee comes from a single parent household with her mother earning $26,000 last year. Student also worked while in high school to help with personal expenses. Lee earned the highest level Hathaway of $3360. This is just enough to pay tuition and fees. Student encouraged to file a FAFSA by our office. Award without the FAFSA, $3,360 With FAFSA Lee received $4565 Pell and $2322 in Hathaway Need as a result of filing a FAFSA. Student will not have to increase her work hours to help with her personal expenses. Award with FAFSA, $10,247.

The Difference Real Student Example—Just the FAFSA Without FAFSA 2015-2016 Cole did not file his FAFSA. He applied for and received a $500 scholarship from an outside agency. Cole paid for college using a credit card. Total award $500 With FAFSA 2016-2017 Cole filed the FAFSA for 16-17. Cole earned $5000 last year and is a single parent. Cole was awarded $5815 in Pell Grant and $600 in SEOG for 16-17. More than enough to cover tuition, fees, books for 16-17. Total Award $6,415

The Difference Real Student Example—Increased Student Resources Without the FAFSA Allen is new at LCCC this year. He did not file a FAFSA because he received a Hathaway for $2520 and our Dean’s Scholarship $800. He has enough for tuition and fees but will have to pay for his own books. Total award $3,320. With FAFSA At LCCC students receiving an institutional award must file the FAFSA. Allen filed the FAFSA and received a $5765 Pell and $592 Hathaway Need. Allen now has more than enough to pay for tuition, fees, books. Total award $9,677

The Difference Real Student Example--Leveraging Without the FAFSA Jo is a student athlete. The coach thinks she is fantastic and awards a full ride scholarship of $12,306 to cover tuition, fees, books, and housing. Jo is an employee dependent and received a Hathaway. This reduces her athletic award to $7,920. Institutional cost $7,920. With FAFSA Athletic aid is institutional aid and the student must file a FAFSA. Jo files the FAFSA and also receives a full Pell grant of $5815. The athletic award is now reduced to $2105. The coach has $10,201 in his budget to award to another student. Institutional cost $2,105.

Developing a FAFSA Filing Campaign Talk about the FAFSA FIRST Talk about scholarships and grants FIRST Require the FAFSA for all Institutional Scholarships and Grants Include the FAFSA in your enrollment steps.

Developing a FAFSA Filing Campaign

Developing a FAFSA Filing Campaign When awarding aid that does not require a FAFSA (GI Bill, Hathaway, Foundation scholarships), tell the student about the FAFSA. Our paragraph states: You may be eligible for additional financial assistance by filing your 2016-2017 FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA is required to determine your potential eligibility for Hathaway Need, federal grants, and LCCC grants. The FAFSA is also required if you are receiving any LCCC scholarships (academic or athletic). You may file your 2016-2017 FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you require assistance, please visit us in the Student Services building.

Impact on LCCC: Award More Aid to More Students

Impact on LCCC: Develop Targeted Approach with LCCC Dollars Soaring Eagle Meets direct costs of first gen or non-trad first degree seeking Pell eligible students where the Pell does not cover direct costs (T/F/B) for Wyoming students. LCCC Need In place of SEOG when funds exhausted. Any student below the poverty line. Pell eligible student moving into res hall. Students who just miss the Pell eligibility threshold. LCCC Youth In Transition Replaces loan for foster care, homeless, etc. Pays for on campus housing costs.

Impact on LCCC: Hathaway Need Awarding

Impact on LCCC: Average Net Price Decreased

Impact on LCCC: Net Price by Income 40% Drop for Lowest Income Students

Impact on LCCC: Other Have data to back grants and develop programs. Have not increased our institutional scholarship budget in three of the last four years. Administrative cost allowance for Pell, SEOG, and Work Study. Not a lot of resistance from students and parents. FAFSA filing rate from 37% in 2013AY to 67% in 2015AY.

Thank You! Julie D. Wilson Director Financial Aid Laramie County Community College jwilson@lccc.wy.edu