A Leading Indicator of College Enrollment and Economic Mobility
For many students in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is the gateway to college.
Research consistently shows that financial aid application completion is one of the strongest predictors of college enrollment. When more students complete the FAFSA or CADAA, more students enroll in college. When enrollment rises, so does the likelihood that students persist, earn a degree or credential, and secure a family-sustaining career.
At Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), we track financial aid completion because it is a critical milestone in the cradle-to-career journey. As the Inland Empire’s regional coordinating intermediary for attainment and economic mobility, GIA uses its CAIR strategy, Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research, to align partners around shared data and coordinated action.
Financial aid completion is more than a form. It is a leading indicator of whether the region is expanding opportunity and accelerating progress toward the shared goal that 70% of working-age adults in the Inland Empire earn a postsecondary degree or credential of value.
The data below provides a real-time look at how the region is progressing.
FAFSA Tracker
Monitoring a Key College-Going Milestone
The FAFSA Tracker offers a snapshot of financial aid application completion across the Inland Empire.
This embedded tool allows users to see regional progress and understand how completion trends are shifting over time. Because the data source is regularly updated, the information reflected here evolves as new submissions are processed.
Every completed application represents a student who is one step closer to accessing financial aid, enrolling in college, and building a pathway to economic mobility.
Explore the Full Financial Aid Dashboard
District-and School-Level Insights
For a deeper view, explore GIA’s Full Financial Aid Dashboard.
The dashboard allows users to filter and disaggregate completion data by district and school. This level of transparency supports action. Educators, policymakers, nonprofit partners, and community leaders can identify where progress is strong and where additional outreach or support may be needed.
Shared data is essential to shared accountability. By making this information accessible, GIA supports regional alignment and empowers partners to act quickly and collaboratively.
Financial Aid Help for Students and Families Across the Inland Empire
Tracking data is only one part of the work. Students and families also need clear, trusted guidance to complete financial aid applications successfully.
That is why Growing Inland Achievement manages IE Cash for College, a regional website designed to make financial aid information simple, accessible, and actionable for students in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Through IE Cash for College, students and families can:
- Learn the difference between FAFSA and the California Dream Act Application
- Find step-by-step guidance on completing applications
- Access workshop information and support resources
- Get answers to common financial aid questions
- Connect to local assistance in their community
The site is part of GIA’s broader regional strategy to remove barriers to college access. By convening school districts, community colleges, universities, and community-based organizations, and by investing in coordinated outreach, GIA helps ensure students are not navigating this process alone.
Financial aid completion is one of the strongest predictors of college enrollment. When students have the information and support they need, completion rises, enrollment rises, and the Inland Empire moves closer to the shared goal of increasing postsecondary attainment and expanding economic mobility.
Visit IECashForCollege.org to get started or to find support near you.
