ERIC Number: EJ1387221
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Sep
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0361-0365
EISSN: EISSN-1573-188X
Available Date: N/A
"Prior-Prior Year" FAFSA Increased Aid Submissions but Likely Not Enrollment
Bettinger, Eric; Gurantz, Oded; Lee, Monica; Long, Bridget Terry
Research in Higher Education, v64 n6 p789-807 Sep 2023
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the primary gatekeeper to secure financial aid for college. The federal government instituted two changes to the process in 2017, commonly known as "prior-prior year" FAFSA: (1) an earlier start date that lengthens the filing period and (2) the ability to use completed taxes from the prior calendar year. This paper uses descriptive statistics to examine resulting changes in application filing behavior in California. Students submitted their FAFSA substantially earlier and refiling rates increased among independent students in the policy year. Although these changes may have reduced the burden of applying, the earlier submissions did not appear to substantially alter state aid receipt or postsecondary attendance.
Descriptors: Student Financial Aid, Paying for College, Financial Aid Applicants, Educational Change, State Aid, Taxes, Postsecondary Education, Attendance
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A160388
Author Affiliations: N/A