Simplifying Student Aid: What It Would Mean for States

In order to examine the potential impact of FAFSA simplification on state grant programs, the College Board, guided by an advisory committee of professionals who have in-depth knowledge of financial aid and state grant policy, selected five states with which to collaborate on the study — Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas and Vermont.

These states were selected because of their commitment to need-based grant aid, their interest in a simpler student aid system, and their comprehensive and accessible data. This diversity allowed the College Board to study the impact of FAFSA simplification in a range of systems and to provide examples for other states with policies and approaches resembling one or more of those studied.