December 14, 2025

Getty Images

Happy Sunday! It’s Elissa Nadworny here with some interesting news about the FAFSA.

So far this fall, more than a million high school seniors have filled out the federal form that gives them access to college financial aid. That’s way up compared with 2023. “Nationally, we're aiming for all time highs in FAFSA completion this year,” says Bill DeBaun from the National College Attainment Network. “We are sprinting out of the gate.”

Seeing so many students fill out the form matters, because it’s often a crucial step in the college process. And, completing the FAFSA is correlated with more students enrolling in college next year.

Which, to me, makes these high numbers surprising, because they come at a time when polls have indicated many Americans are souring on the importance of higher education.

“With the uncertainty in the job market, a lot of students are worried that it will not be worth it in the future,” says Sean Sobush, a high school senior in Florida. Nevertheless, he’s already filled out the FAFSA, and he told me that most of his classmates are still thinking they’ll apply to college. “It is kind of contradictory, but I think if they can attend for a lower cost, that it is worth the risk.”

Experts say there are two big reasons the numbers are so high this year: The form is much simpler, thanks to recent federal legislation that made it faster and easier to fill out. “I did go into it expecting it to take the whole afternoon,” Sobush told me.

But when he opened his laptop at his local Starbucks and navigated to the online form, it only took about 15 minutes to complete. “It was really simple and it definitely was a welcoming surprise.”

The other reason? The form was also made available way earlier this year — on Sept. 24! In the two years prior — the form didn’t open until sometime in December. But DeBaun says schools shouldn’t get too cocky: To reach an all time high FAFSA completion, at least a million MORE students still need to fill it out by summer.

— Elissa Nadworny, Correspondent, NPR Ed

Newsletter continues after sponsor message

In other news...

The U.S. Education Department recalls dozens of attorneys it tried to fire amid a civil rights complaint backlog. Employees at the department who were fired in March and subsequently placed on paid leave when the courts intervened got an unexpected email recently – telling them to return to work. Read the story.

— Cory Turner, Education Correspondent, NPR

Millions of borrowers in Biden's SAVE plan would move to other plans under a new settlement. The Saving on a Valuable Education plan, better known as SAVE, was the most flexible and generous of all student loan repayment plans, promising expedited loan forgiveness and monthly payments as low as $0 for low-income borrowers. Republican state attorneys general, led by Missouri, sued the Biden administration, arguing in court that SAVE was too generous. Now, the Trump administration has struck a deal to shut down the plan. Read the story.

— Cory Turner, Education Correspondent, NPR

To AI or not to AI? Do college students appreciate the question? Will Teague, a professor at Angelo State University in West Texas, designed a way to figure out if his students were using artificial intelligence on a recent paper. He says students are sacrificing their own agency to artificial intelligence. Listen to the podcast.

— Consider This from NPR

Gifts for every public radio nerd on your list

The most wonderful time of the year? Uhhhhh, sure. Maybe after you’ve crossed everyone off your shopping list. To help you get to the “wonderful” part faster, check out our 2025 holiday guide. We’ve broken out our most popular items into categories for different types of people we know you know, from the music head to the minimalist to the playful activist.

The proverbial ribbon on top? Every purchase you make supports the local journalism you love. So when you gift others, you’re also gifting your favorite NPR station.

Shop Holiday Collections ➔

And here's something to make you smile...

ICYMI! The monthly podcast Your Child’s Brain brings together researchers, educators, physicians and therapists as well as families to discuss contemporary topics about child and youth brain health and development. It's produced by the Kennedy Krieger Institute with assistance from member station WYPR. Check it out today!

As always, thanks for listening and reading!

— The NPR Education Team

Listen to your local NPR station.

Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream.

What do you think of today's email?

We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: npred@npr.org

Enjoying this newsletter?

Forward to a friend! They can sign up here.

Looking for more great content?

Check out all of our newsletter offerings
— including Music, Politics, Code Switch and more!

You received this message because you're subscribed to Education emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy