Columbus County Schools has emerged as a statewide leader in preparing students for life after graduation. The district recently earned the distinction of being ranked #1 out of 115 school districts in North Carolina for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion for the second year in a row, and received statewide recognition at the North Carolina Financial Aid Summit recently.
As of June 2025, nearly 82% of Columbus County Schools’ high school seniors had successfully completed their FAFSA applications. This far surpasses the statewide average and underscores the district’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that every student has a pathway to higher education—whether through college, trade school, or other credentialing programs.
Laura Hunter, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, explains why the FAFSA is so critical for graduating seniors:
“FAFSA opens doors students may not even know exist. It gives them real, tangible options after high school—college, trade school, or workforce training—that might not have been part of their plans yet. Even if they're still figuring out their next step, completing the FAFSA ensures those opportunities stay within reach. As a result, more of our students are positioned for success beyond high school because one of the most common barriers to continuing their education—cost—can be significantly reduced or even removed.”
Ms. Hunter also believes that high FAFSA completion rates have a broader impact:
“FAFSA doesn’t just benefit individual students—it helps build a more educated and skilled workforce, which makes Columbus County even more attractive to businesses considering where to locate. This is a win for our kids, our schools, and our entire county.”
This accomplishment is even more notable when compared with FAFSA completion rates in surrounding districts:
Columbus | 81.9 |
Whiteville City | 47.1 |
Bladen | 42.1 |
Robeson | 48.1 |
Brunswick | 39.8 |
New Hanover | 49.3 |
Columbus County’s success is the result of a coordinated effort to guide students and families through the FAFSA process and support their post-secondary planning. Dedicated counselors and principals work alongside college success coaches from UNCW and a student success counselor, all collaborating to ensure students not only complete the FAFSA but do so early. Columbus County Schools remains committed to providing support both before and after graduation, ensuring every student has an opportunity for a strong and successful future.
This site, https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/ncseaa/viz/FAFSA_Tracker/Overview, has FAFSA completion rates for the state.