Herald-Dispatch: Editorial: Rise in student aid applications a good sign for WV
It is really one of the first steps toward going to college or community college.
But in recent years, only about half of West Virginia high school seniors have made it that far.
So, it is encouraging to see that by the end of June this year, almost two-thirds of the state’s seniors had completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, called FAFSA for short.
That’s up from about 57 percent from two years ago.
This application starts the process that opens up the opportunity for students to win a Promise Scholarship, but also to qualify for many forms of federal student aid, including Pell Grants.
The state Higher Education Policy Commission has been championing efforts to get more West Virginia students to apply for several years, and those programs seem to be working.