PRESS RELEASE
JACKSON, MISS. – Mississippi ranks first in the nation in completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). According to the National College Attainment Network’s FAFSA Tracker, 73.4% of Mississippi’s 2025 graduating high school seniors completed their FAFSA.
The FAFSA is the federal application that unlocks access to financial aid, including Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, and, if needed, federal student loans. In Mississippi, the application is also used to determine eligibility for certain state-based financial aid programs and some private scholarships.
“This #1 national ranking is a tremendous milestone for Mississippi,” said Jim McHale, President and CEO of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF). “It demonstrates the dedication of educators, counselors, career coaches, and mentors who work tirelessly to ensure students have the resources they need for life after high school. Get2College is proud to support this achievement through our statewide college planning and FAFSA assistance.”
This year marks Mississippi’s first-ever #1 ranking in FAFSA completion. The state has consistently been a national leader, finishing in the top five in 2019–20 (#3), 2020–21 (#5), and again in 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 (#3 each year). Mississippi’s steady presence near the top reflects a long-standing commitment to ensuring students can access financial aid and continue their education beyond high school.
Mississippi’s success comes without a state-mandated FAFSA requirement. Instead, the state’s College & Career Readiness (CCR) course, a graduation requirement starting in 2022, equips students with financial aid education and financial literacy, including FAFSA completion guidance. Get2College, the college access program of WHEF, updates and distributes the CCR workbook statewide and provides free one-on-one FAFSA appointments, serving thousands of students and families each year, in person at its three centers, through its new mobile center, and online, ensuring equitable access to expert guidance across Mississippi.
Completing the FAFSA changes outcomes. In Mississippi, graduates who complete the FAFSA are four times more likely to enroll in college. Nationally, FAFSA completers are 84% more likely to go straight to college, and for the lowest-income students, FAFSA completion leads to a 127% increase in enrollment. These gains directly support Mississippi’s Ascent to 55% goal of increasing the number of residents with a degree or credential beyond high school, which is essential to meeting the state’s growing workforce demands.
The 2026–27 FAFSA is now open for students and families to complete. With Mississippi leading the nation in FAFSA completion, now is the time for the next class of seniors to keep the momentum going. Get2College is ready to help every student and family, whether in person, online, or through its new mobile center, so that more Mississippi graduates can access financial aid and opportunities that support their futures.
