Navigating Financial Aid: Understanding the FAFSA and Kansas Education
Financial aid is money to help students pay for college. It can be in different forms and come from various sources. Completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application is often considered the first step in making education after high school possible for students. The Department of Education (DOE) states that students need to complete a FAFSA form to be eligible for federal student aid such as federal grants, loans and work-study funds. Students can then use these federal dollars to complete their journeys through higher education after graduating from high school. This article explores the FAFSA, its significance in accessing financial aid, recent changes in Kansas education policy regarding the FAFSA, and resources available to students and families.
The Significance of FAFSA Completion
Completing the financial aid application qualifies students for federal, state, and institutional funding that can make college more affordable. FAFSA completion is strongly associated with postsecondary enrollment: 92% of seniors who completed the FAFSA enrolled by the November following graduation. According to the Department of Education, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is one of the key components to college affordability.
Kansas FAFSA Completion Rates
Through July 4, 2025, 46.72% of the Class of 2025 in Kansas has completed a FAFSA. The 2024 Kansas FAFSA completion rate was 45.8%. The 2023 Kansas FAFSA completion rate was 47%.
A Shift in Kansas Education Policy: The FAFSA Graduation Requirement
In 2024, the Kansas State Board of Education (KBOE) approved the FAFSA requirement for graduating high school seniors in Kansas during a vote where a majority of the board gave their approval for the change to K.A.R. 91-31-35. The KSDE’s Graduation Task Force, created in 2021, and the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) recommended the addition of the FAFSA requirement to help encourage high school students to apply for financial aid and take advantage of millions in unused federal aid, according to the KSDE. The graduation requirement had mandated that every student fill out a FAFSA, starting with this academic year's freshman class, unless their parent opted them out or their superintendent exempts them. Educators said the intent was to get students to take advantage of federal financial aid that they may not have known they qualified for had they not applied.
However, Kansas education officials nixed a controversial high school graduation requirement less than a year after enacting it. The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday voted 8-2 to repeal the new requirement that high school students completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The FAFSA requirement was added in May 2024 as part of a slate of changes to high school graduation requirements. Those changes were the culmination of years of work to update the minimum graduation requirements for the first time in two decades.
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Reasons for Repeal
But the FAFSA requirement caused consternation among some board members as well as lawmakers on an oversight committee, and the board decided in July to backtrack. Due to the slow speed of the regulatory process, it took until now to formally repeal it. R. Scott Gordon, general counsel for the Kansas State Department of Education, said public comment during the regulatory process was universally opposed to the FAFSA requirement.
"It was attached to graduation, to a diploma, and that was not OK for me," said board chair Cathy Hopkins, R-Hays. "Should schools be putting it out there? Absolutely, 100%. Everybody needs to know what's available to them. … I just don't think it should be a requirement to graduate."
Opponents of the idea had suggested that parents shouldn't have to submit information to the federal government, that schools shouldn't have data on whether students completed a FAFSA, that it places a burden on students and families and that it's not an appropriate thing to have as a graduation requirement.
Arguments in Favor of the FAFSA Requirement
Board member Jim Porter, R-Fredonia, was one of the two no votes. He said he had concerns about the FAFSA requirement but had supported it because there were safeguards. "The fact is we have people that believe that we are emphasizing non-college over college, and it's not a zero-sum game," Porter said. "I believe that we're emphasizing both, and I think that removing the FAFSA sort of plays into that scenario. I believe there will be many first-generation students that won't know what their options that would probably have more options had they gone through that process."
Moving Forward
State education officials have said they will look to accomplish the goal in a different way, such as through the accreditation process.
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The FAFSA Simplification Act
The FAFSA Simplification Act will streamline the financial aid process for students and families. This legislation brings about significant changes, including a reduction in the number of questions on the FAFSA, clearer wording of questions, and an effort to enhance Federal Pell Grant eligibility. While the simplification may increase financial aid eligibility for some students, it could also result in decreased aid for others.
Starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA, the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) has been replaced by a new, Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is based on differing data points than what was used by the Department of Education for calculating an EFC. Under the new calculation rules, a SAI can be a negative number (from - 1 down to -1,500). Negative SAI values will allow K-State to identify students more accurately with greatest need. The new Student Aid Index (SAI), unlike the previous Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation, will not factor in the number of students in a family attending college. The listing of the net worth of a business will no longer be limited to those with 100 or more full-time employees. The listing of the net worth of a farm will now include the net worth of a family farm. Parents without a Social Security Number will be able to apply for an FSA ID.
Completing the FAFSA: A Step-by-Step Guide
To provide required information on the FAFSA, parents of dependent students should also create a StudentAid.gov account. Complete and submit the FAFSA Students should file the FAFSA as early as possible to be considered for aid programs with limited funds. KU’s federal school code is 001948. The Department of Education recommends that you file the FAFSA online, but a paper version of the application is also available. Complete the aid application for your specific state You may qualify for financial aid through your home state. If you are a Kansas resident, additional information is available at kansasregents.org.
Post-Submission: Review and Verification
Review your FAFSA Submission SummaryYour FAFSA Submission Summary summarizes the information included in your FAFSA and indicates your Student Aid Index. If your current financial situation was not accurately reflected on the FAFSA, adjustments can be made in some cases. You may also check your to-do list on Enroll & Pay. Financial aid will not be awarded until all requested information is received, processed, and your file is complete. Department of Education to ensure information provided on your FAFSA is accurate. Please complete and submit the Verification Worksheet at ku.studentforms.com along with all required documents listed, which may include federal tax return transcripts, W-2s, and 1099 forms. Verification may take up to four weeks after FAS receives all required documentation.
Resources for FAFSA Assistance
Did you know your local extension agent can assist with FAFSA completion? There is research and extension office presence in all 105 counties in Kansas. Schedule a time (October-December) when parents & students can meet together for a FAFSA completion event (it might need to be held outside of school hours).
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Key Dates and Deadlines
The 2026-27 FAFSA is now available at fafsa.gov. File your 2026-27 FAFSA by Feb.
StudentAid.gov Account
Department of Education, your StudentAid.gov account is used as an electronic signature when you file your FAFSA, correct your FAFSA Submission Summary, sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for federal loans, and monitor federal loans you receive. Your StudentAid.gov account and password are confidential and should not be shared.
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