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The �¼������ϲ� Board of Regents and the �¼������ϲ� Cactus League are teaming up to encourage college-bound �¼������ϲ� high school seniors to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

�¼������ϲ� high school seniors who complete the FAFSA and meet all promotion guidelines will receive four free spring training tickets to a baseball game this season! .

“This unique partnership helps encourage �¼������ϲ�’s high school seniors to complete the FAFSA,” said �¼������ϲ� Chair Fred DuVal. “College opens doors to so many opportunities for students, and filling out the FAFSA is the first step to help students fund their college dreams.”

This is the second year that �¼������ϲ� and the Cactus League have joined forces on the .

“FAFSA opens the door to grants, work-study funds and student loans – and there is no income cutoff to qualify,” Cactus League Executive Director Bridget Binsbacher said.  “When it comes to paying for college or career school, it’s a home run.”

Delays and technical glitches have plagued the roll out of this year’s FAFSA, which has caused a dramatic reduction in filers across the country.

The impact is felt even deeper in �¼������ϲ�, which has a high number of students who are eligible for federal Pell Grants. FAFSA delays disproportionally affect low-income and first-generation students who rely on timely financial aid offers to make college decisions. Just 16,996 of �¼������ϲ� high school seniors have completed the FAFSA, nearly 13,000 less than at this time last year. �¼������ϲ� was 49th among states for FAFSA completion as of Feb. 16, 2024. 

To ensure students and families have time to file their FAFSA, qualify for the  and make college decisions, �¼������ϲ� and �¼������ϲ�’s public universities – �¼������ϲ� State University, Northern �¼������ϲ� University and the University of �¼������ϲ� – announced last week they are extending the FAFSA priority deadline to May 1, including the FAFSA deadline for the Promise Program.

�¼������ϲ�, ASU, NAU, U�¼������ϲ� and college access organizations are also providing students, families and counselors additional support to help them complete the FAFSA. :

• Virtual one-on-one appointments
• An �¼������ϲ� FAFSA hotline
• Support via text messages
• Webinars
• FAFSA pro tips
• (an innovative tool �¼������ϲ� provides for high school educators to track FAFSA completion)

Students and families can access virtual appointments, tips and FAFSA support videos .