(By Jacob Mathews/The Center Square) — According to a recent report, the percentage of Louisiana high school seniors applying for financial aid has steadily declined since 2020 with the largest drop-off happening over the last year.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid calculates students’ eligibility to receive grants, scholarships and loans for college. The amount of graduates who applied fell from 70% in 2023 to 60% in 2024. In 2020, that number was at 77%.

Despite the dwindling numbers, Louisiana still ranks second among states for FAFSA completions, trailing only Tennessee. However, the trend in the Pelican State reflects a national decline.

The National College Attainment Network, a Washington-based nonprofit that advocates to increase access to higher education, revealed a 10% decrease in FASFA applications across the United States, down to 50% of seniors overall.

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana said the decline was likely due to a chaotic new FAFSA form. The U.S. Department of Education updated the federal aid application process over the last academic year, but a delay in releasing the changes combined with technical glitches when applications opened caused disruptions.

The percentage of completed FAFSA applications is expected to decline even further in future years because the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education repealed a policy that had required students to apply for federal student aid to graduate. The change takes effect in January.

Still, there are some parishes with increase in FASFA applications such as Plaquemines, Franklin and St. Landry parishes.

Iberville Parish saw the sharpest decline in FAFSA completions with only 32% of the high school class of 2024 completing the form, compared to 74% the prior year, a 57% decrease.

According to data from the National College Attainment Network, the students who need college financial aid the most apply for it at a lower rate than students who do not.

An estimated 63% of seniors in the class of 2024 at high-income high schools completed a FAFSA application, while only 55% of seniors at low-income high schools have done the same.