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College Enrollment and Mandatory FAFSA Applications: Evidence from Louisiana

  • Christa Deneault
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 15, no. 3, August 2023
(pp. 465-94)
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Abstract

I estimate the impact of a Louisiana state policy that mandated Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications as a high school graduation requirement. I find significant increases in FAFSA completion rates (19 percentage points), and my estimates imply an increase of 1–2 percentage points in college enrollment. There is suggestive evidence that these effects were more concentrated among lower-income students/schools, and merit-based state financial aid applications also increased. The design of this mandate implies that pushing students into action may be more effective than informational nudges and that localized support systems such as counselors are important for the success of a top-down policy.

Citation

Deneault, Christa. 2023. "College Enrollment and Mandatory FAFSA Applications: Evidence from Louisiana." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 15 (3): 465-94. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20210360

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • D91 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
  • H75 State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions
  • I21 Analysis of Education
  • I22 Educational Finance; Financial Aid
  • I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
  • I28 Education: Government Policy
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