Jaely had always been interested in technology, especially computer science and cybersecurity. She liked figuring things out, solving problems, and understanding how systems worked. Those careers felt like a natural fit.
What didn’t feel clear was the path to get there. College, often the clearest path into those fields, felt out of reach. The cost alone was enough to make her write it off before it ever felt like a real option.
“I felt that no matter which way I looked at it, college was always a luxury I couldn’t afford,” she said.
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is what finally turned her dream into a reality.
“When I realized I could actually go, I started imagining all the possibilities that could come with that opportunity,” Jaely said.
Turning Individual Support into Regional Impact
Jaely didn’t find her way to college on her own. She was supported by her high school and Project Next – one of several organizations in San Diego County helping students navigate the FAFSA and see college as a real option.
“As a former high school counselor, this work is deeply personal to me because I’ve seen how many capable students quietly limit their options simply because they aren’t aware of the resources available, or the process feels confusing or inaccessible,” said Lisa Stout, Executive Director of Project Next.
Project Next is one of ten organizations supported through a $350,000 investment by San Diego Foundation to expand one-on-one FAFSA support and guidance across the region. The funding is designed to strengthen the work already happening in schools and communities – helping more students like Jaely move from uncertainty to opportunity.
“Completing the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is often a turning point, opening doors to financial resources and expanding what students believe is possible,” Lisa said. “Partnerships with organizations like San Diego Foundation make this work possible.”
Closing the FAFSA Completion Gap in San Diego County
Across San Diego County, thousands of students miss out on college financial aid each year; not because they lack motivation or ability, but because they never complete the FAFSA.
According to the California Student Aid Commission’s Race to Submit Dashboard, just over half of San Diego County high school seniors completed the FAFSA in 2025. As a result, many students – particularly first-generation students and those furthest from opportunity – are left without access to grants, scholarships, and other financial resources that can make college affordable.
For many families, the process itself is the barrier. Complex requirements, shifting deadlines, and uncertainty around eligibility can feel overwhelming. School counselors, often supporting hundreds of students at a time while balancing academic advising and mental health needs, don’t always have the capacity to provide the one-on-one help FAFSA requires.
“It’s about working hand in hand with schools, counseling teams and helping students to finish and to complete,” said Linda Doughty, Director of the San Diego and Imperial Counties California Student Opportunity and Access Program (CAL-SOAP).
That support makes a measurable difference. In 2025, San Diego County Office of Education data showed that when students received hands-on assistance, fully processed, error-free FAFSA completions increased by 11%, and overall submissions rose by 8%.
“Every student in San Diego and Imperial County should fill out a FAFSA no matter how much their parents make,” she said. “Because that opens a gateway for other things.”
Opening Doors to What’s Possible
For Jaely, completing the FAFSA unlocked a future she once thought was out of reach. Today, she’s on track to graduate early, pursuing the career she always dreamed about and encouraging other students to see college as a real option for themselves.
Through investments in schools and trusted community partners, San Diego Foundation is helping ensure that more students can move from uncertainty to confidence, from paperwork to possibility. And with continued support, thousands more students across San Diego County can take that same step forward.
