Data Dashboards
This section guides professionals such as school counselors, financial aid officers, and policy analysts on utilizing FAFSA completion dashboards to improve outreach, identify trends, and support underrepresented students.
Why it matters
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion is a critical gateway to financial funding for higher education. Dashboards like those from NaviCore Partners and the U.S. Department of Education offer rich insights to optimize outreach strategies and equity-focused initiatives.
Dashboard Overview
U.S. Department of Education FAFSA Completion Data Center
Aggregates data on FAFSA applications and completion rates for high schools across the U.S.
Allows comparisons across cohorts, regions, and timeframes.
Includes downloadable data for custom analysis.
URL: https://studentaid.gov/data-center/student/application-volume/fafsa-completion-high-school
How to Use These Tools
Trend Analysis: Track year-over-year changes in FAFSA submission rates, both statewide and within your district or school.
Identify Gaps: Pinpoint schools or student groups lagging in completion to tailor targeted outreach.
Program Evaluation: Monitor the impact of FAFSA awareness campaigns or workshops on completion spikes.
Resource Allocation: Inform budgeting and staffing by identifying times and populations of greatest need.
Quick Tips
Compare Peer Performance: Use the NaviCore dashboard to benchmark your district or school against similar communities.
Filter by Demographics: On the U.S. Department of Education site, filter FAFSA completion rates by high school and year to spot trends in underserved student populations.
Download and Analyze: Export dashboard data and integrate it into your local data systems (e.g., Excel, Power BI) for deeper analysis and custom visualizations.
Inform Stakeholders: Use clear visuals and stats from dashboards when updating school leadership, community partners, or district boards about FAFSA progress.