Harrisburg, PA –An unprecedented outreach campaign by four universities in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education helped 7,500 students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and request financial aid to attend college amid national confusion over the new form.

The four institutions representing Pennsylvania regions, Commonwealth University (north central), Millersville University (east), Shippensburg University (south central), and Slippery Rock University (west), conducted outreach activities from May through August. To support the outreach initiative, the PASSHE Foundation received a $357,602 award administered by the Educational Credit Management Corporation, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

“This FAFSA outreach is another way that PASSHE universities are delivering for Pennsylvania,“ said Interim Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. ”I commend the hard work of our State System universities for helping thousands of students – and their families – to apply for financial aid and pursue their dream of a college education. Whether those students enrolled at a PASSHE university or another institution, this initiative helped open doors of opportunity for students now and into the future.”

Each university designed outreach to meet the needs of their region. Millersville University held a series of FAFSA Fiestas with personalized, one-on-one assistance at the university’s campus and downtown Lancaster in partnership with PHEAA and the School District of Lancaster. Students and parents received assistance in eight languages: English, Spanish, Swahili, Arabic, Nepali, Hindi, Nigerian Pidgin, and Yoruba. The university also contacted current students, offering help with FAFSA completion so they could continue their education.

“This initiative was so important because FAFSA completion rates were dropping nationwide, and we wanted a big push to help students submit the form and secure the financial aid needed to make college affordable,” said Emiyaril Alvarez, M.Ed., director of financial aid, Millersville University.

Alvarez said that while most students speak English, some parents do not, which creates uncertainty for families trying to understand the FAFSA process.

“Parents’ faces would light up when we’d greet them in their native language. They could breathe and talk with us to get information and help their child attend college. Some families came from several counties away,” said Alvarez. “We wanted to let the community know that we’re here to help, regardless of where you’re going to college.”

Shippensburg University deployed a strategic digital marketing campaign linked to a FAFSA landing page that provided support and guidance to students and details about free FAFSA information sessions. The campaign allowed the institution to reach a large and diverse audience which increased access to FAFSA support many students were seeking this past year.

“We prioritized reaching as many students as possible, and providing them with options that fit their personal needs in terms of accessing FAFSA support. The campaign was successful in marketing terms, but the true success was in the number of students we were able to assist. Over 15,000 unique users visited our FAFSA information website as a result of this campaign,” said Dr. Megan Luft, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at Shippensburg University.

Slippery Rock University held a series of outreach activities in the evening and on weekends to provide one-on-one help for students and families. The university partnered with Butler County Community College to invite its students to SRU events.

“The personalized support to families was very impactful, especially for the students with complicated situations, and we were able to help them,” said Alyssa Dobson, director of financial aid at Slippery Rock University. “I’m extremely proud of the students and the SRU staff for their tremendous dedication and all the extra hours and support they provided.”

Some families attended several events to receive help completing the FAFSA.

“We want families to know that Slippery Rock is here to help, whether a student wants to attend SRU, a community college or out of state. We are an open door,” said Dobson.

Commonwealth University conducted a direct-to-student awareness campaign with reminders about upcoming deadlines and the importance of completing the FAFSA. The form is used to determine eligibility for scholarships and grants that do not need to be paid back, including federal Pell Grants, PA State Grants, university financial aid, work-study employment programs, federal student loans and other aid packages.

Commonwealth also partnered with other PASSHE universities to advertise on music streaming services that are popular with college students. The collaboration reached more people while avoiding duplication of advertising.

“Through this summer outreach, we helped more than 700 students complete the FAFSA and continue their education at Commonwealth. Without this initiative, they may not have started or continued college. This could be life-changing for them,” said Thomas Kresch, director of enrollment communications and graduate admissions at Commonwealth University.

“I encourage students to submit the FAFSA early in the process. Most people only choose a college once, and you want to make the best decision for your future. That starts by completing the FAFSA,” Kresch said.

The PASSHE universities conducted the summer FAFSA initiative after the rocky launch of the U.S. Department of Education’s revised FAFSA form on Dec. 31, 2023, three months later than usual. FAFSA completions in Pennsylvania declined by 9%.

The Department of Education launched the 2025-26 FAFSA on Nov. 21.