Completing the FAFSA is one of the most important steps students can take toward making postsecondary education more accessible and affordable. By submitting the FAFSA, students can access federal, state, and institutional financial aid opportunities that can help make their next step after high school possible.
That is why Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota launched the Get Ready FAFSA Challenge to encourage schools to focus on FAFSA completion, celebrate progress, and recognize the educators, students, and families working together to expand access to critical financial aid.
What began as a pilot with Get Ready capacity and outreach schools has continued to grow. The Challenge expanded from 18 Get Ready GEAR UP partner schools last school year to encompass all nine of Get Ready GEAR UP’s capacity schools along with 101 eligible Minnesota public high schools serving student populations of 50% or more Free and Reduced-Price Lunch eligible students in the 2025-26 school year.
The 2025–2026 FAFSA Challenge concluded on May 2nd with more than half (53%) of participating schools with available data surpassing a 5% increase in FAFSA completion, and eleven schools exceeding a 60% FAFSA completion rate.
This year’s winners are:
- Large School: Roosevelt High — 64.11%
- Medium School: Fridley Senior High — 66.50%
- Small School: Heritage High School — 95.24%
- Greatest Increase: HOPE Community Academy High School (+44.77%) Metro College Prep (+34.14%)
FAFSA completion challenges have been effective in other states because they help create a shared goal, build schoolwide momentum, and give educators a clear way to track progress and celebrate success. By combining data, outreach, friendly competition, and public recognition, FAFSA challenges can help schools focus their energy on connecting students and families with the support they need to complete the form.
To support schools throughout the competition, Get Ready also provides a FAFSA Challenge Toolkit with resources, templates, and promotional materials that schools can use to raise awareness, engage students and families, and build FAFSA completion into their college and career readiness efforts.
At Fridley High School, that schoolwide energy has made a meaningful difference:
“Get Ready's FAFSA Challenge has been incredibly influential on the college and career readiness culture of Fridley High School," said Matt Keifer Fridley High School's College and Career Specialist. "I am a strong believer that Fridley High School's FAFSA completion percentage is a direct result of this initiative. Get Ready's FAFSA Challenge has been such a powerful motivator for students and their families. Promotion of this FAFSA Challenge has literally brought students and their family members into school to get their FAFSA completed. This competition has helped focus so much of the school's energy and effort towards FAFSA completion, which has resulted in extremely positive outcomes the past three years. Thank you Get Ready for leading this work and putting on the FAFSA Challenge each year!”
Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota congratulates this year’s FAFSA Challenge winners and thanks every participating school for their commitment to helping students access the financial aid they need to pursue postsecondary opportunities! The progress made this year reflects the dedication of counselors, college and career staff, administrators, teachers, families, and students across Minnesota.
