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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools recently welcomed middle and high school students, pictured, back for in-person classes. The rate of applications for financial aid for college students has fallen both nationally and in North Carolina.
Getting first-generation and low-income students to apply for college is always a challenge, according to Hope Williams, president of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. But she says the pandemic has only exacerbated the issue.
“The challenge in higher education is reaching students and families who are our lower-income and first-generation college students,” Williams said.
Not only are application rates for first-generation and low-income students down, but so are applications for FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.