FAFSA Degrees in AZ: How to Compare Schools in the Phoenix Area

By Randall Perry Last updated Jun 30, 2021

PHOENIX, AZ – Applications for financial support for federal colleges are significantly lower this year, and that could mean fewer new students this fall.

Prospective students can complete the free State Student Grant Application to qualify for subsidized student loans and other grants. FAFSA applications were down 5.8 percent across the country this year compared to the same period last year. According to an analysis of FAFSA data by the Associated Press, approximately 1.72 million students completed the application on June 25, compared with 1.83 million in 2020.

In February of this year, FAFSA applications fell 10 percent compared to the previous year. But graduation rates rose in the spring when schools were able to hold more FAFSA aid events in schools that were canceled last year due to the pandemic.

A decline in the FAFSA graduation rate could herald lower enrollment in the fall. The 2020 class had 3.7 percent fewer FAFSA requests than the 2019 class; According to the National College Attainment Network, post-secondary enrollment fell 6.8 percent between 2020 and 2019.

In Arizona, 30,977 FAFSA filings were closed on June 25, compared to 34,208 filings at the same time last year. That is 9.5 percent less. (See how high schools fare in the Phoenix area below.)

The decline is greater for Title 1 colleges, that is, those where low-income students account for at least 40 percent of enrollments. Graduations from Title 1 high schools decreased 8.83 percent, compared with a 3.86 decrease in non-Title 1 schools.

In Arizona, completed applications from Title 1 schools decreased 14.7 percent, compared with a 4.0 percent decrease in non-Title 1 school applications on June 25.

Here’s how schools in the Phoenix area fare with the FAFSA graduation on June 25th. Additional high schools in the Phoenix area can be found here. Note: The percentage changes can be influenced by a relatively small difference in theses, especially in smaller schools. FAFSA data only counts for students 19 and under.

School: Pinnacle High School
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 417
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 394
Percentage change: 5.84
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Desert Vista High School
Zone: Tempe Union High School District (4287)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 401
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 496
Percentage change: -19.15
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Chaparral High School
District: Scottsdale Unified District (4240)
Parish: Scottsdale

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 330
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 315
Percentage change: 4.76
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Sandra Day O’Connor High School
District: Deer Valley Unified District (4246)
Parish: Glendale

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 299
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 240
Percentage change: 24.58
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Sunnyslope High School
Zone: Glendale Union High School District (4285)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 290
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 256
Percentage change: 13.28
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Mountain Ridge High School
District: Deer Valley Unified District (4246)
Parish: Glendale

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 282
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 308
Percentage change: -8.44
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Liberty High School
Zone: Peoria Unified School District (4237)
Municipality: Peoria

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 280
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 274
Percentage change: 2.19
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Horizon High School
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
Parish: Scottsdale

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 258
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 279
Percentage change: -7.53
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Boulder Creek High School
District: Deer Valley Unified District (4246)
Congregation: hymn

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 258
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 295
Percentage change: -12.54
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Tolleson Union High School
Zone: Tolleson Union High School District (4288)
Parish: Tolleson

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 237
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 288
Percentage change: -17.71
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Trevor Browne High School
Zone: Phoenix Union High School District (4286)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 233
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 281
Percentage change: -17.08
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Mountain Pointe High School
Zone: Tempe Union High School District (4287)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 233
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 275
Percentage change: -15.27
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Metro Tech High School
Zone: Phoenix Union High School District (4286)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 220
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 238
Percentage change: -7.56
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: North High School
Zone: Phoenix Union High School District (4286)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 219
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 272
Percentage change: -19.49
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Ironwood High School
Zone: Peoria Unified School District (4237)
Parish: Glendale

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 211
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 269
Percentage change: -21.56
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Maryvale High School
Zone: Phoenix Union High School District (4286)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 196
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 211
Percentage change: -7.11
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Cesar Chavez High School
Zone: Phoenix Union High School District (4286)
Municipality: Laveen

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 196
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 232
Percentage change: -15.52
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Paradise Valley High School
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 195
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 207
Percentage change: -5.8
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Washington High School
Zone: Glendale Union High School District (4285)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 191
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 221
Percentage change: -13.57
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Arcadia High School
District: Scottsdale Unified District (4240)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 190
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 194
Percentage change: -2.06
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Asu Preparatory Academy Digital
Zone: Asu Preparatory Academy Digital (522074)
Parish: Tempe

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 184
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 54
Percentage change: 240.74
Title 1 Status: Not Title I across the school

School: Thunderbird High School
Zone: Glendale Union High School District (4285)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 173
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 224
Percentage change: -22.77
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Camelback High School
Zone: Phoenix Union High School District (4286)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 173
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 186
Percentage change: -6.99
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Greenway High School
Zone: Glendale Union High School District (4285)
Parish: Phoenix

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 163
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 183
Percentage change: -10.93
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

School: Westview High School
Zone: Tolleson Union High School District (4288)
Parish: Avondale

Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2021: 161
Total FAFSA completions as of June 25, 2020: 204
Percentage change: -21.08
Title 1 Status: Title I across the school

Click here to view the numbers for other high schools in Phoenix.

FAFSA application for the 2020-21 academic year ends on June 30 at 11:59 p.m. CT, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Many states and universities have their own grant application deadlines. In recent years there has been a push for students to complete the FAFSA earlier in their senior year.

Editor’s note: This list was automatically generated using FAFSA data analyzed by the Associated Press. Students over 19 years of age are not included in the federal high schools count. Information is not available for all schools. Schools with fewer than five degrees are not included in the data. Please report bugs or other feedback to [email protected].