Yahoo Autos Ohioans missing out on more than $80M for college each year| Opinion
“Education is the key to opportunity.”
Gov. Mike DeWine made this assertion in his inaugural address three years ago, and as Ohio’s education agency chief executives, we couldn’t agree more.
Every Ohioan deserves the chance to work at a good-paying job, to raise a family comfortably, and to be secure in his or her future. One of the ways Ohioans achieve these goals is by continuing their education beyond high school.
This can take many forms: learning a valued skill at a technical center, earning an associate degree at a community college, or choosing to pursue a bachelor’s degree and beyond at any one of Ohio’s dozens of colleges and universities.
One key to maximizing this opportunity is accessing financial aid. Education can be much more affordable than many people may believe.
We want Ohio families to have maximum opportunity and to be supported with Pell grants, Ohio College Opportunity Grants, and institutional scholarships.
Yes, you can get federal grants to attend an Ohio technical center.
In fact, a higher percentage of students at Ohio technical centers benefit from federal Pell grants than at our colleges. Pell grants are not just for traditional college and university settings; they are also for students in advanced manufacturing, welding, fire/EMS, and more.
If students want financial aid, they must apply using a form called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA. It may not surprise you to learn that nationally – and in Ohio – FAFSA completion rates dropped 10% or more since the start of the pandemic.
More: FAFSA applications down during pandemic, but big changes coming to simplify process
Each year, Ohio students forfeit more than $80 million in free grants for further education. Stated differently, Ohioans are leaving $80 million on the table each year – money they could have accessed by completing a FAFSA.
