The Oregonian
By Andrew Theen
June 2, 2016
Oregon had the largest increase in the nation in the percentage of high school seniors who completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a key indicator that more Oregonians are interested in going to college.
In 2016, Oregon saw an 8.8 percent increase from a year earlier in the number of students who completed the application. Oregon also leads the nation in the percent increase in submitted-but-incomplete applications, according to an analysis from the National College Access Network.
Despite those increases, Oregon still falls below the national average for the percent of high school seniors completing a FAFSA. According to Bellwether Education Partners' annual analysis, 39.6 percent of U.S. high school seniors finish their financial aid applications. Oregon's completion rate is 39.1 percent.
Students must fill out the complex application to determine eligibility for state and federal grants and loans.