Columbus County Schools has state’s highest FAFSA completion rate

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Columbus County recently earned the distinction of being ranked #1 out of 115 school districts in North Carolina for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion for the second year in a row, and received statewide recognition at the North Carolina Financial Aid Summit recently.

As of June, nearly 82% of Columbus County Schools’ high school seniors had successfully completed their FAFSA applications.

Laura Hunter, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, explains why the FAFSA is so critical for graduating seniors:

“FAFSA opens doors students may not even know exist. It gives them real, tangible options after high school—college, trade school, or workforce training—that might not have been part of their plans yet. Even if they’re still figuring out their next step, completing the FAFSA ensures those opportunities stay within reach. As a result, more of our students are positioned for success beyond high school because one of the most common barriers to continuing their education—cost—can be significantly reduced or even removed.”