Shelley Moore Capito: “well, today is May 1, which is National College Decision Day. This is normally such an exciting occasion for students in…”

“well, today is May 1, which is National College Decision Day. This is normally such an exciting occasion for students in my home State of West Virginia--and your home States--would be finalizing those really fun and hard decisions about which college or university to attend in the fall. There is much to look forward to. This year, the customary hopefulness has been replaced by anxiety, fear, and apprehension as confusions and questions take hold regarding the availability of support that has long accompanied one of the most important decisions of our young students' lives. When it comes to the 2024 FAFSA applications, the data from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission paints a very bleak picture. Compared to the same time last year, freshmen--these are national statistics--freshmen FAFSA completion rates are down 35.3 percent. For Pell-eligible students, FAFSA completion rates are down 32 percent. For nontraditional students 25 and older, FAFSA completion rates are down 35 percent. These are national figures. The total number of high school students who completed FAFSA is down 39.6 percent, and the total number of high school students who submitted a FAFSA is down 31.6 percent. These percentages ring true in my home State of West Virginia.…”