FAFSA Pilot | Quarter 2 | 2024
Cradle 2 Career is on a mission to increase FAFSA completion rates in Rochester. Financial aid plays a critical role in making higher education accessible, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the essential first step.
View the new college readiness webpage here!
The Challenge
According to Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, less than 60% of Rochester Public Schools graduates¹ have completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA application as of August 2, 2024. The 2024-2025 FAFSA form poses many challenges for students and families nation-wide. Delayed deadlines, new language, and technology errors are causing a whirlwind of confusion. As a result, many Rochester graduates are missing out on valuable financial resources.
The good news? It’s not too late to get financial aid!
The 2024-2025 FAFSA form is open until June 30, 2025 and C2C is actively working with community-based organizations (CBOs) and education professionals to help more students seeking higher education complete the FAFSA.
Solutions
Free FAFSA Help Events - C2C, in collaboration with College Possible, a CBO based in the Twin Cities that provides financial aid expertise, hosts free drop-in events at least once every two weeks. These events provide students and families with personal guidance while filling out the FAFSA. See the calendar here.
RCTC is hosting financial aid events at their Welcome & One Stop Center throughout the entire summer, as well as offering drop in help at any time. RCTC’s College Transition Advisors who work at the public high schools continue to work through the summer to support students.
Communication & Outreach - To increase completion of FAFSA and connect students with resources, C2C is devoted to social media and advertising campaigns. Through utilizing paid ads on Instagram, making flyers accessible in multiple languages, and stationing postcards at local businesses C2C is reaching its diverse audience in creative ways. All of these medias bring students and families to the college readiness hub on the C2C website. Check it out for information on types of aid, a calendar of events, and links to helpful walkthrough aids!
Grant Support
C2C’s FAFSA pilot is made possible by grants through Arch to Philanthropy and ECMC (Educational Credit Management Corporation). This crucial funding supports C2C’s continued impact in the Rochester community.
FSA data reflects first-time filing applicants no older than 19 years old at the FAFSA cutoff date who will have received their high school diploma before the start of that aid year.