Navigating Steps to College Enrollment

Financial aid information is often complex, and students may not always have access to the support they need to fully understand college costs and the range of available financing options. The evidence reviewed in this section suggest that while simplifying financial aid offers alone may not be enough to change enrollment or borrowing behavior, interventions that build financial literacy, improve knowledge of student loans and repayment options, or reframe how college borrowing is presented may better equip students to navigate college financing decisions.

This lever is also included in the Increasing College Affordability domain.

Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meeting state-based financial aid requirements are key steps for students to access financial aid and make college more affordable. However, the complexity of these processes can create barriers for families, preventing them from completing the applications and accessing aid they would otherwise qualify for. In 2023, just over half (53%) of rural seniors completed the FAFSA (authors’ calculation of NCAN data). 

Evidence reviewed in this section shows that FAFSA completion rates can be improved by providing students and their families assistance with FAFSA filing. Intensive, hands-on support has the largest impact on completion rates, but more cost-effective approaches, such as text message-based reminders and advising, have also shown promising results when implemented at the local level. Studies aimed at boosting state financial aid applications and take-up show that informational nudges and promotional efforts can improve early steps in the process—such as submitting applications or creating accounts—but have limited effects on final aid receipt or college enrollment.

This lever is also included in the Increasing College Affordability domain.

Summer melt refers to the phenomenon where students intending to enroll in college after high school graduation fail to matriculate in the fall, an issue impacting an estimated 10% to 40% of students nationwide (Castleman & Page, 2014). The summer months can be challenging as students lose access to high school counselors and have not yet established connections with college support staff, all while needing to complete essential pre-enrollment tasks and navigating potential financial obstacles.

Summer melt can be reduced by providing students with reminders of key deadlines and access to counselors or advisers for assistance. Interventions that have been tested in this area include proactively offering one-on-one advising as well as two-way text-message outreach where students can request additional assistance. Some colleges are also exploring AI systems to offer summer support to accepted students.

The SAT or ACT are required for admission by many four-year colleges and are used to assess academic readiness. Rural students have historically had less access to these exams (ACT, 2019; ECS & College Board, 2019), which can pose a significant barrier to college access. 

Multiple entities have introduced policies and programs aimed at expanding access to college entrance exams and preparing students for these high-stakes tests. In recent years, many states have adopted universal testing policies that offer free, in-school testing for all students. Both College Board (who administers the SAT) and ACT have made prior changes to their policies to increase the number of free score reports that students can send to colleges.