Universal FAFSA in Texas

In 2019, Texas became the second state to pass legislation requiring students to complete and submit a financial aid application for high school graduation, enacted under House Bill 3 (HB 3) during the 86th Texas Legislature (2019). The HB 3 graduation requirement is part of Texas’s broader efforts to increase the number of students who complete college and reduce student college debt. State policies, such as the Texas HB 3, have the potential to greatly increase students’ college access and persistence by improving their knowledge of the financial aid application process, eligibility for financial assistance, and ability to pay for college. Following state legislative sessions in 2023, 12 states now have some form of universal FAFSA policies.

To examine implementation of the Texas graduation requirement and how implementation is related to student outcomes, AIR was awarded an Institute of Education Sciences research grant.

This work is guided by an advisory board made up of members from the Texas Education Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Education Service Centers, high schools, school districts, community organizations, students and parents.

This work was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305A210271, to the American Institutes for Research® (AIR®).