The number of California high school seniors completing federal financial aid applications has dropped by 25% this year compared to last year, according to the state agency that handles financial aid. Analysts say students may fear the Trump administration will use their sensitive data for immigration enforcement.
As of last week, about 48,000 fewer students have submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is a federal application used to determine eligibility for government-funded student loans and grants. The number of students applying who have at least one undocumented parent has also declined by 44%, from around 30,000 last year to just 17,000 this year.
California’s Student Aid Commission has extended the deadline for state financial aid to April 2 for some counties affected by wildfires, amid concerns that students may be hesitant to apply due to fears about data use. The commission’s executive director, Daisy Gonzales, describes the trend as “alarming” and believes it could lead to a lost generation of students who might otherwise succeed.
Experts warn that Trump’s plans for student financial aid data are unclear, but they highlight concerns such as billionaire Elon Musk’s group gaining access to student loan records. The commission is holding a webinar with high school counselors to discuss the implications of this decline and how to encourage more students to apply for state aid. Two new state bills may help extend the state aid deadline and allow more Californians to use the state application.
The drop in FAFSA applications has significant consequences, including $85 million in grants going unused if every student with an undocumented family member opted out of federal aid by completing only the state application. Experts say that most mixed-status families are hesitant to share information due to concerns about data use and immigration enforcement. The situation is a complex issue, but one thing is clear: students’ fears about data use are driving them away from applying for financial aid.
Source: https://smdp.com/news/education/fewer-california-high-school-seniors-are-applying-for-financial-aid-some-blame-trumps-immigration-policies