MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Samuel Noel is a student at the University of Memphis and knows finding money to pay for school isn’t always easy.
“It’s really rough,” Noel said. “I had to take out some loans, unfortunately, but not everyone has to.”
A NerdScholar survey recently showed many Tennessee High School seniors are not applying for federal Pell Grants.
“Grants are money you don’t have to pay back. So that’s a big thing too,” Noel explained.
Students in Tennessee gave up more than $50 million by not applying for the grants.
However, Tennessee students were not alone in passing up free money.
Mississippi students missed out on more than $34 million, and students in Arkansas forfeited nearly $26 million.
The survey explained the money was left on the table because a large number of students did not fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Kampanaroius Williams, a freshman at U of M, asked, “If you need the assistance, why didn’t you apply? You know?”
Students told WREG many of their peers probably do not know how to apply for the cash.
“A lot of people just don’t have the knowledge to apply for the thing, and if they don’t apply for the thing, they don’t get the money,” Noel said.
Students, who spoke with WREG, hope getting the word out about the free money will make going to college a little easier.
“It’s getting harder out here each year man,” Williams said.
Students can start applying for federal aid in January, and the deadline, for most schools to have the completed form, is June.