Different paths

For those interested in going to college, scholarships, grants and loans can mean the difference between pursuing higher education or not. But should everyone, regardless of circumstance, be forced to complete the financial aid applications that are required to obtain financial assistance?

In a handful of states, including Indiana, New York and Michigan, lawmakers say “yes,” pushing a demand that high school seniors complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a prerequisite for graduation.

This implies, wrongly, that attending college is the primary way to be successful.

It is generally accepted that Americans who complete a four-year degree — about a third of the adult population — earn significantly more than those who don’t. But the price tag is a big one. One in six adults are carrying loans, totaling about $1.5 trillion nationally. Federal grants that do not require repayment rarely provide enough funding to achieve a bachelor’s degree, and any loans encumbered by students puts a significant dent in their earnings in the years post-graduation.

There are alternatives with promise at not so high a price. High school graduates who choose to attend trade schools or two-year certificate programs or to begin their college careers at less expensive community colleges can potentially circumvent at least some debt while launching rewarding, well-paying careers without a four- to six-year delay in beginning to earn. For those seeking more immediate financial independence and stability, these are viable options that deserve as much attention from high school guidance counselors who advise students. These less expensive options may not require indebtedness.

There also are privacy concerns in requiring the FAFSA simply to graduate from high school. Wealthier families will not qualify for federal loans or grants based on their income. Students in such families should not be required to fill out a FAFSA and share detailed personal information about their finances for no purpose. This is needlessly intrusive.

It’s also true that entering college is only the start of the battle for many who matriculate. They must finish the program. All too often, that doesn’t happen. Pre-COVID-19, around 70% of graduating seniors enrolled in colleges while only about 40% actually graduated. So, getting a loan, courtesy of FAFSA, leaves too many with big debt and no degree to show for it. This is another reason for serious counseling at the high school level before a student jumps toward a four-year college program.

Proponents of the FAFSA requirement argue that there is significant federal money left on the table each year due to low numbers of applicants. (Nationally, about 55.6% of graduates completed the FAFSA last year.) But a one-size-fits-all approach is not the way to go. Students in financial need and who are certain they want that bachelor’s degree should be encouraged to apply for financial assistance and they should be helped in filling out the cumbersome form, if that help is needed.

High schools should ensure that students are aware of all their options for financial assistance, but the awareness campaign shouldn’t end there. Graduating seniors should be made acquainted with all their choices posthigh school. A bachelor’s degree from a four-year college is not the only path to success in life. School districts shouldn’t act like it is.