The Arizona Board of Regents has officially launched the College Ready AZ FAFSA Scholarship, a significant initiative aimed at increasing the completion rates of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) among Arizona high school seniors. This initiative seeks to foster higher education aspirations by providing tangible financial support to students who demonstrate commitment to their educational futures.
In partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, and Valley of the Sun United Way, the scholarship program boasts a fund of ,000, which will support 25 recipients with a one-time award of ,000 each. These funds are designated for Arizona high school seniors who intend to enroll in one of the state’s public universities or community colleges immediately following graduation.
Doug Goodyear, chair of the Arizona Board of Regents, emphasized the importance of FAFSA completion, stating, “Every Arizona student and family should complete the FAFSA. Thanks to our partners’ commitment to FAFSA completion and college access, we’re able to offer this new financial incentive. Together, we’re helping more students take that important step and break down barriers to higher education.”
Eligible students for this scholarship must complete the FAFSA for the 2026–27 academic year, along with a scholarship application through College Ready AZ. They are also required to respond to an essay prompt from the Arizona Community Foundation, detailing how the scholarship would support their educational journey and their future contributions to the Arizona community.
Applications for the scholarship will be accepted from November to April on a rolling basis. Monthly announcements of scholarship recipients will follow, each recipient receiving not just the scholarship but also a personalized letter of congratulations.
The importance of FAFSA completion cannot be overstressed; statistics reveal that Arizona high school seniors forfeit over 0 million in Pell Grants annually due to incomplete applications. Research indicates that students who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to enroll in postsecondary education immediately following high school. For low-income students, this completion translates to a remarkable 127% increase in immediate college enrollment.
Vince Yanez, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships for Helios Education Foundation, stated, “The College Ready AZ FAFSA Scholarship demonstrates how public and philanthropic organizations can collaborate to eliminate financial obstacles for high school seniors looking to pursue postsecondary education.” He highlighted Helios’s ongoing dedication to enhancing college accessibility, particularly for students from low-income and historically underrepresented backgrounds.
Recent improvements to the FAFSA application process, including streamlined verification with the Social Security Administration, have made completing the form quicker and easier for families, reducing the time required to as little as 15-30 minutes. This enhancement is already yielding positive results in Arizona, where approximately 20.23% of current high school seniors had completed their FAFSA applications as of mid-November. The state has stood out nationally for its year-over-year improvements, achieving a 40% completion rate in the 2025-26 cycle.
To further bolster FAFSA completion rates, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced a new target of 48% for the class of 2026 at the recent FAFSA and College Readiness Symposium. Initiatives such as the “50 by Fall” campaign incentivize Title I and public high schools to encourage FAFSA completion among their students.
The College Ready AZ initiative is a vital piece of a broader movement to enhance educational opportunities and reduce financial barriers for Arizona youth. The Arizona Board of Regents encourages all students and families to visit the College Ready AZ website to access essential tools and resources designed to streamline the college preparation and application process. For more information about the FAFSA Scholarship and to apply, visit College Ready AZ.
