Massachusetts is pushing forward with a plan to get more students through college doors and, crucially, without a mountain of debt. The Healey-Driscoll Administration just set live a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data dashboard, aiming to hike up the completion rates for this critical financial aid step. Money, and often the lack of it, remains a high hurdle to higher education but Massachusetts is trying to give its students a leg-up over the barrier.
The new tool will track the FAFSA completion rates by various splits – school, district, and student group – and is designed to shine a light where support might be sorely needed. "Massachusetts has made huge investments in college affordability, but we need to make sure our students can benefit from them by filling out financial aid applications," Governor Maura Healey said in a statement covered by the state's official website. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll seconded the sentiment, highlighting the FAFSA as a gateway to significant financial aid at community colleges, state universities, and even some private colleges.
According to the Massachusetts government, the dashboard draws from federal FAFSA completion figures which the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education matches against state data. While the actual numbers might run slightly higher – thanks, always, to the odd data delay – the tool will hand schools and districts student-level data through DESE's Security Portal. This is about girding a support network for prospective students, particularly those eyeing Massachusetts state colleges and universities, and spreading the word that financial aid is there for the taking, Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler advised.
With this dashboard, Massachusetts isn't just paying lip service to the idea of education for all. It's doubling down on its investment in accessible education, addressing one of the recommendations from ACARE, the administration’s Advisory Council to Advance Representation in Education. The state has also subsidized AP exams, bankrolled career planning tools, approved Early College programs, and run financial aid info sessions—these are just a few from a solid list of actions aimed at bolstering college enrollment and completion rates. "The availability of FAFSA completion data is critical for all of us who support students and families in the college-going process," Bob Bardwell said, executive director of the Massachusetts School Counselors Association, as noted by the Massachusetts government.
Anyone needing some guidance through the FAFSA maze can hit up Mass.Gov/FinancialAid or MEFA, which both offer free assistance. There are more resources and contacts over at mass.gov/GoHigher and the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
