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The ����TV���� has expanded its nationally recognized FAFSA Peer Coach Program to Pima County, aiming to reach more than 3,000 additional students and increase Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion rates across the state.

To launch the school year, two training events were held in Phoenix and Tucson, preparing 225 student peer coaches to help the Class of 2026 navigate the FAFSA form and college financial aid. In Maricopa County, 158 peer coaches and 59 advisors from 32 schools gathered for training at Phoenix’s Burton Barr Central Library. The program's first event in Pima County featured 67 peer coaches and 21 advisors from 18 schools gathered at Pima Community College’s downtown Tucson campus.

Training sessions covered FAFSA updates, financial aid basics, public speaking, social media outreach and school-specific strategies ahead of the anticipated Oct. 1 FAFSA launch. Recent enhancements to the FAFSA form, tested with the help of Arizona high schools, now enable students to complete the application in as little as 10-15 minutes.

“The FAFSA Peer Coach Program’s expansion to southern Arizona is a powerful step forward to make college a reality for every student in the state,” said Chad Sampson, ABOR executive director. “By empowering students to support one another, we’re building a culture of college-going and financial readiness that reaches into every community.”

In 2024-25, schools participating in the peer coach program averaged a 10% higher FAFSA completion rate than the state average. Nearly half of the participants increased their completion rates by 5 percentage points or more. The program’s success continues to attract new high schools and is , with states like Florida, Maryland, South Dakota and Wyoming exploring similar models.

“The FAFSA Peer Coach Program is truly moving the needle on FAFSA completion across Arizona. The program has grown from 24 pilot schools to 50 schools in just four years,” said Julie Sainz, ABOR director of FAFSA and college access initiatives. “It’s inspiring to see these students step up as FAFSA champions, eager to learn and support their classmates’ higher education aspirations.”

Peer coaches are central to ABOR and the Governor’s 50 by Fall campaign, which incentivizes schools to achieve 50% FAFSA completion by Dec. 31. With only 40% of Arizona’s Class of 2025 completing this goal during the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle, peer coaches are vital to unlocking more than $100 million in unclaimed Pell Grants annually.

“A lot of students don’t understand the financial aspect of college, and they don’t understand that they can get help with the process. It’s an empowering thing to have peer coaches help most students. They help keep us informed.” said Tristan Scott, a peer coach at Centennial High School. “From what I’ve heard, most states don’t have peer coaches. Programs like this help our future — not just in the near future, but 10 years from now.”

At Dobson High School, peer coach Zamara Ducommun emphasized the power of peer-to-peer support in overcoming FAFSA misconceptions.

“I think it’s definitely the relatability aspect that makes FAFSA peer coaching so successful. It is different when you hear it from a teacher,” said Ducommun. “But when it is a whole group of senior peer coaches doing it, it’s like we’re going through the same thing, and you feel more supported by your classmates. Events like the peer coaching training are very helpful in showing students what is possible.”

More information about the FAFSA Peer Coach Program’s success can be found by reviewing the . For FAFSA support visit .