About the Intervention
Customized FAFSA Nudging is a text message intervention that provides high school seniors with personalized, data-informed updates on their FAFSA submission and completion status. The intervention delivers weekly automated text messages from January through late April during students' senior year. Messages are customized based on students' actual FAFSA filing status (not yet started, submitted but incomplete, complete, or complete with income verification required). The outreach encourages students to use school and community supports for FAFSA filing, provides links to informational videos and resources, and enables students to text back for one-on-one assistance with their school counselor. The intervention also includes information about TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid) for undocumented students. Messages remind students about FAFSA importance, deadlines, priority filing dates, and verification requirements. School counselors respond to incoming student questions via the text platform.
Statistical Findings
Positive effect: on FAFSA submission
Positive effect: on FAFSA completion
Positive effect: on timely college enrollment
Positive effect: on four-year college enrollment
Negative effect: on two-year college enrollment
More Intervention Details
Focus Areas
N/APrograms & Services
General EducationDelivery Methods
Online – Asynchronous, HybridDisability Support
N/ATarget Groups
Student(s)Citation
C. Page, L., L. Castleman, B. & Meyer, K. (2020). Customized Nudging to Improve FAFSA Completion and Income Verification (EJ1244835). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1244835.pdf.
Study Demographics
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Other Participant Characteristics
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