Universal FAFSA in Texas

In 2019, under House Bill 3 (HB 3), Texas became the second state to pass legislation requiring students to complete and submit a financial aid application for high school graduation. The HB 3 graduation requirement is part of Texas’s broader efforts to increase the number of students who complete college and reduce students’ 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, their receipt of financial assistance, and their ability to pay for college. By the end of the state legislative sessions in 2023, 12 states had established some form of universal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) policy. 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®).