Education is the key to equality and opportunity.
Completing the FAFSA is an important step towards making that opportunity a reality.
Every Ohioan 
deserves the chance to succeed, get a good-paying job, raise a family comfortably, and be secure in their future. Every Ohio student 
should have the opportunity to live up to their maximum potential.
How is Ohio doing so far this year?
Completing the FAFSA 
is an important step toward earning a credential, whether that’s a college degree or a technical certificate.
As Ohio seeks to compete and win, and as Ohio families seek to maximize their quality of life, we cannot ignore the importance of FAFSA as a key indicator for learning beyond high school. Whether a student pursues a welding certificate or a bachelor’s degree, the process can begin with completing the FAFSA.
$2.8m
A bachelor’s degree is worth $2.8 million more over a lifetime of earnings than a high school graduate.
45,000+
Over 45,000 Ohio students in the class of 2023 received full Pell Grant awards totaling over $300 million in financial aid.
“My tuition is completely covered due to completing the FAFSA. I no longer have to worry about paying for college, which makes me even more excited to attend college in the fall.”
Alaujah – Ohio High School Graduate
GEAR UP Cincinnati, Ohio
“Completing the FAFSA changed the way I thought about school. Not having to pay for school is something I never dreamed of.”
Julian – Ohio High School Graduate
GEAR UP Cincinnati, Ohio
“Completing the FAFSA helped me determine how much my family would be able to support and how much I would need from loans and scholarships.”
Selena – Ohio High School Graduate
Reynoldsburg Livingston Campus
How do we make an impact?
By working together.
It’s an old trope: it takes a village to raise a child, but the truth is that we do share the responsibility for educational progress.
It isn’t enough to just get a diploma. Students must go beyond, and continue learning to be successful. Here are some ways you can help Ohio students have the best chance for success.
Make sure your district is signed up for the Ohio FAFSA Data Service.
Ask your school board to set a FAFSA completion goal.
Schedule a FAFSA completion workshop with a local nonprofit or public library.
that’s MILLIONS
$120,000,000
was left on the table by Ohio high school graduates in 2023 by not completing the FAFSA. Let’s make sure we don’t let another year pass with funding opportunities going uintapped by our students. NCAN
The first step to making a difference is knowing where you stand.
Do you know how your school district is doing?
Ohio FAFSA
Completion Dashboard
The Ohio FAFSA Completion Dashboard is a tool for school officials, community partners, and policymakers to explore how Ohio school districts stack up in the state. The dashboard is one tool supporting Ohio’s vision that education is the key to equality and opportunity.
© 2025 The Management Council
