M³ commits to get more high school seniors to fill out FAFSA

Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are working together to get more high school seniors to fill out a critical application needed to unlock access to potential scholarships, grants, and other types of financial aid to help pay for college.

Encouraging Milwaukee Public Schools high school seniors to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been a priority for the M3 partnership, which comprises MPS, MATC, and UWM. Students who submit the FAFSA are shown to be more likely to attend college or technical school. Many students enter a college pathway only after seeing what types of financial aid are available.

Due to the pandemic, some students are delaying plans for college. The classes of 2020 and 2021 both show a decrease in FAFSA applications and thus college attendance.

As of May 14, 2021, the number of high school seniors nationwide who completed the FAFSA was down 5.5% compared to the same point in the 2019-20 academic year, according to the National College Attainment Network.

Looked at another way, the estimated FAFSA completion rate at MPS was at 35% to 39% as of May 14, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education, compared to an estimated 45% to 49% at the same point in 2019-20.

A recent survey by education firm EAB found, in part, that high school students were having more difficulty accessing support networks of college counselors, teachers, and coaches during the coronavirus pandemic.

M3 (pronounced M-cubed)  is committed to reversing the FAFSA decline. It launched an outreach campaign in spring that will continue even after classes end in June.

Collectively, efforts around the country to encourage FAFSA completion may be working. The national FAFSA completion rate gap has narrowed from about 7% on April 2.

The FAFSA can still be filled out for the upcoming fall semester. A completed FAFSA is required for college financial aid and reveals a student’s eligibility for federal and state grants, scholarships, federal loans, work-study positions, and other institutional aid.

Joshua Wilder, a senior at Riverside University High School, spoke about the importance of the FAFSA in April during M3 Education Transformed, a virtual event series that explores current issues in education. Wilder filled out the application in fall with the help of his aunt and counselors from his high school and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.

An aspiring software engineer, Wilder wants to create a foundation that creates and teaches software as a way to help low-income communities struggling with access to technology. He was trying to decide where to attend college, choosing among options both in and out of state.

“Because I completed my FAFSA, a lot of different opportunities are out there and I’m able to choose between those many different schools,” Wilder said.

First step toward opportunity

The April event included appearances by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, UWM Chancellor Mark Mone, MATC President Vicki Martin, and MPS Superintendent Keith P. Posley.

Barrett said that FAFSA completion was the first step to opening opportunities in higher education and beyond. Addressing racial disparities was ranked as the Milwaukee region’s biggest challenge in a survey of Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce board members and the CEOs of its member companies.

“It’s about the future of our city and the future of our economy,” Barrett said. “The path of success is always going to include knowledge.”

“One key to unlocking a bright future is seizing the assistance that’s available,” the mayor added. “It’s what our city needs – talented young people.”

College students seeking financial aid must fill out the FAFSA each year. The FAFSA recalculates eligibility each year for most types of need-based aid. At some universities including UWM, FAFSA status also impacted eligibility for unique federal grants that were distributed to help students pay for emergency expenses due to the pandemic.

M3 efforts to promote FAFSA completion have included in-person assistance at most MPS high schools during a two-week period in April and a districtwide session April 17.

Presenters at the Education Transformed event asked those who knew a high school senior to check if they have completed their FAFSA and to share the following resources if needed.

For general FAFSA information, visit: