Hawaiʻi public school seniors lag behind the nation when it comes to applying for the federal financial aid that can help them pursue a college degree.
This year, roughly 48% of Hawaiʻi public school graduates completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is required to qualify for federal grants and certain scholarships from colleges, state agencies and private foundations.
That rate remains lower than the pre-pandemic level, when roughly 60% of the public school class of 2019 filled out the FAFSA and the state education department set an ambitious goal of having 90% of all graduates submit the form…