More California Seniors Applied for College Aid This Year

Rising Numbers of California High School Seniors Applying for Financial Aid

More than 70% of California public high school seniors applied for federal financial aid this year, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. This surge in applications highlights the effectiveness of efforts made by the state to encourage students to take advantage of available financial support. The numbers show that nearly 340,000 seniors completed the financial aid application, up from about 307,000 last year, representing an 11% rise.

The California Student Aid Commission, which oversees college aid in the state, released these figures recently. In 2023, around 74% of seniors completed the application, while the percentage dropped slightly to 72.7% this year. However, in 2024, the figure was at 64%, showing a fluctuation over the past few years.

Daisy Gonzales, the executive director of the commission and former leader of the state’s community college system, praised the progress in a statement. She emphasized that more students applying for financial aid means higher education institutions can serve more students. A spokesperson for the commission, Shelveen Ratnam, noted that Gonzales and other executives were unavailable for interviews.

A key factor behind the increase is a 2021 state law requiring high schools to ensure their seniors complete financial aid applications. Not completing the application could mean missing out on $22,000 or more in state and federal aid during the first year of college. Last year, the commission conducted research to understand why some families did not apply. One common concern was skepticism about whether the aid was truly free.

California is projected to spend approximately $2.9 billion on student financial aid in the 2025-26 academic year. This investment helps ensure that more than half of the state’s residents do not pay tuition when attending public universities.

Applications Remain Strong Despite Immigration Concerns

Data from the commission also shows that more students from mixed-status families—those with parents who do not have lawful immigration status—applied for federal financial aid this year compared to last year. This trend has surprised many, as it counters concerns that the Trump administration’s immigration policies might lead students to avoid applying for aid to protect their families.

In 2023, about 64,700 high school seniors from mixed-status families submitted the FAFSA by the September 2 deadline. That number dropped to just under 60,000 in 2024 but increased to over 69,000 this year. The decline in 2024 was attributed to technical issues with the redesigned FAFSA, which prevented tens of thousands of students whose parents lacked Social Security numbers from completing the application.

Unlike the federal FAFSA, the California Dream Act Application does not share user data with federal agencies. Most students still complete the FAFSA, but the commission has advised students in mixed-status households to consider applying only for state aid. Similar guidance has been provided by other nonprofits focused on college access.

Approximately 3.3 million Californians live in mixed-status households, including 1 in 5 children under 18, according to 2021 data from the Equity Research Institute, a USC research group.

Expanding Access to Financial Aid

The California Dream Act Application provides students with access to state tuition waivers and additional grants, but the FAFSA remains the only way for students to qualify for federal student loans and the Pell Grant, which can provide more than $7,000 annually to low-income students.

To support students in navigating the financial aid process, the student aid commission and its partners hosted over 1,200 workshops this year. More than 16,000 professionals were trained to assist students in applying for financial aid, ensuring that more students can access the resources they need to pursue higher education.