Almost 18 million students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The following are FAFSA Application Statistics, including the number of FAFSAs filed, who files the FAFSA, and the impact on financial aid.
A total of 17.7 million students filed the FAFSA in 2019-2020, down from the peak of 21.9 million applicants in 2011-2012.
About a third of undergraduate graduate students do not file the FAFSA. Of students who do not file the FAFSA, 2 million would have qualified for a Federal Pell Grant.
This table shows the top ten states by the number of FAFSAs filed in 2019-2020.
Of students who file the FAFSA, less than a third file the FAFSA during the first three months, from October 1 through December 31, and about half in the first six months.
Students who file the FAFSA in the first three months tend to get twice as many grants, on average, as compared with students who file the FAFSA later.
Three quarters (74%) of female students file the FAFSA, compared with two-thirds (65%) of male students. Overall, this means that 61% of FAFSAs are filed by female students and 39% by male students.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of low-income students file the FAFSA, compared with two-thirds (65%) of middle-income students and 59% of high-income students. More than half (57%) of FAFSAs are filed by students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.
About half (48%) of FAFSAs are filed by first-generation college students.
Four-fifths (80%) of full-time students file the FAFSA, compared with almost two-thirds (64%) of part-time students.
Of freshmen filing the FAFSA, 61% apply to just one college.
More than three quarters (77%) of dependent students file the FAFSA, compared with two-thirds (64%) of independent students.
Two thirds (64%) of veterans file the FAFSA, compared with 71% of students who are not veterans.
This chart shows the percentage of students who file the FAFSA by race. Three quarters (74%) of minority students file the FAFSA, compared with two-thirds (67%) of White students.
