FAME helps you serve your students and their families as they prepare, apply, and pay for education after high school. Find tools to help, such as videos and presentations, professional development trainings, FAFSA completion tools, and financial education resources.
Videos and Presentations to Share with Families
FAME is here to help your students and their parents learn about financial aid. To make the process less overwhelming, we’ve created a series of short, animated videos that walk students through the entire financial aid process. Please share our videos with your families.
Please encourage your students and families to attend a Financial Aid Information Session, ideally during the student’s junior year. FAME’s in-person Financial Aid Information Sessions are held in the fall and the spring throughout the state. FAME also offers virtual Financial Aid Information Sessions. To schedule an event for your high school, contact your assigned College Access Counselor (Jessica Whittier, Michelle Radley, or Nikki Vachon) or email Mila Tappan.
Financial Aid Information Presentation
Share this Financial Aid Information Session video with your students and families so they can watch it at their convenience.
Professional Development
Wednesday Webinars
FAME’s Wednesday Webinars provide web-based training and information to school counselors, college access advisors, financial aid counselors, and anyone who works with families, helping them prepare to pay for higher education and navigate the financial aid process.
Our monthly virtual trainings, also known as Wednesday Webinars, are held on the second Wednesday of each month during the academic year from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Upcoming Wednesday Webinars:
May 2024
8
Wednesday Webinar: Comparing Financial Aid Offers and Paying the Remaining Balance
Online, via Zoom
22
Wednesday Webinar: Reworking the Plan—Alternative Pathways Available to Students
Online, via Zoom
All webinars are also recorded. Archived webinars not listed below are available on YouTube.
Wednesday Webinar Recordings and Presentations
| Title | Date | Recording | Presentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claim Your Future Overview and Updates | April 2024 | Recorded | |
| Next Steps in the FAFSA Process | March 2024 | Recorded | |
| After the FAFSA – What We’ve Learned | February 2024 | Recorded | |
| Filing the 2024-2025 FAFSA | January 2024 | Recorded | |
The 2024-2025 FAFSA is Coming Soon | December 2023 | Recorded | |
| Becoming A Scholarship Insider | November 2023 | Recorded | |
| Get Ready, Get Set, Repay | October 2023 | Recorded | |
| Help Your Students Get Ready to File the 2024-2025 FAFSA | September 2023 | Recorded | |
| FAFSA Simplification is Coming! | June 2023 | Recorded | |
| Working with Students with Challenging Situations | May 2023 | Recorded | |
| FAME Financial Wellness Resources & Updates | April 2023 | Recorded | |
| So, There’s Money Left to Pay | March 2023 | Recorded | |
| Supporting New Mainers – How FAME Can Help | February 2023 | Recorded | |
| Comparing Financial Aid Offers | January 2023 | Recorded | |
| Understanding the Status of Debt Relief and the PSLF Waivers | December 2022 | Recorded | |
| Scholarship Champions: Inspiring Students to Scholarship Success | November 2022 | Recorded | |
| Filing the 2023-2024 FAFSA | October 2022 | Recorded | |
| Filing the FAFSA with Students in Unique Living Situations | September 2022 | Recorded | |
| From Backup Plan to Boss Man – or Woman | June 2022 | Recorded | |
| Saving for Higher Education – Debunking Myths and Sharing Resources | May 2022 | Recorded | |
| Responsible Borrowing 101: Tools & Strategies to Support Your Students Before They Borrow | April 2022 | Recorded | |
| You Can Get There From Here- Pathways To Education After High School | March 2022 | Recorded | |
| Making College Affordable: Tips to Pay the Remaining Balance After Financial Aid | February 2022 | Recorded | |
| Understanding and Comparing Financial Aid Offers | January 2022 | Recorded |
In-Person and Virtual Trainings
Financial Aid 101
Financial Aid 101 (FA 101) is FAME’s annual financial aid training for school counselors, college access advisors, educators and anyone assisting students with the financial aid process. This free event offers the latest financial aid updates, training sessions on our most requested topics, and information on events and activities for the upcoming year.
This year’s Financial Aid 101 in-person event took place on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Maple Hill Farm Bed & Breakfast Inn and Conference Center in Hallowell.
In addition to the in-person training on March 15th, a virtual Financial Aid 101 training was held on Friday, March 22, 2024, featuring the same content.
If you have suggestions or questions related to FAME’s Financial Aid 101 event, please contact Nikki Vachon.
Summer Financial Aid Training
To help prepare for the upcoming financial aid season, FAME hosts its free Summer Financial Aid Training each year in August. This year’s event was held on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, and the focus of the entire day was on FAFSA Simplification.
If you missed the event but would like to know what was covered, check out the 2023 Summer Training Agenda. You can view recordings of the presentations, download PDFs of the slide decks, see a list of upcoming trainings, and find additional resources on our FAFSA Simplification page.
If you have suggestions or questions related to FAME’s Summer Financial Aid Training, please contact Mila Tappan.
FAFSA Resources
Filing the FAFSA is the important first step students need to take to access financial aid. Here are some resources that will help you help your students file their FAFSAs and get financial aid.
Free FAFSA Help for Your Students and Their Families
FAME is offering FAFSA Help Sessions. These sessions are being offered both in-person and virtually via Zoom. We’ll provide a short FAFSA overview and then provide personalized one-on-one help to get the FAFSA done.
Answers to Your Students’ Most-Asked FAFSA Questions
Students and parents often have just a question or two preventing them from filing the FAFSA. Once they have the answer(s) they need, they’re on their way. We’ve put together these frequently asked questions to help you help your students.
Track Your Students’ FAFSA Filing Using FAME’s FAFSA Portal
FAME’s FAFSA Portal allows eligible high school counselors to access the FAFSA completion status for each of their high school seniors, and also identify which filers have been selected for verification. For more information, please contact Mila Tappan.
Download a Word document of scripts to use when doing FAFSA follow-up with your students. (Also available in PDF format.)
Thermometer Poster (download PDF): Hang it in your school and track your school’s FAFSA completion percentage and encourage students to file.
FAFSA Completion Rates by High School
| School Name | Class of 2021 as of May 1, 2021 | Class of 2022 as of May 1, 2022 | Class of 2023 as of May 1, 2023 | Class of 2024 as of April 29, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide Average | 52.41% | 52.60% | 59.88% | 49.24% |
| Ashland District School | 82.61% | 66.67% | 77.78% | 50.00% |
| Bangor High School | 49.34% | 54.29% | 63.53% | 47.72% |
| Baxter Academy for Technology & Science | 57.43% | 63.22% | 68.97% | 66.27% |
| Belfast Area High School | 58.27% | 53.00% | 72.22% | 55.08% |
| Biddeford High School | 39.77% | 39.71% | 54.65% | 34.09% |
| Blue Hill Harbor School | 18.18% | 18.75% | 12.50% | 0.00% |
| Bonny Eagle High School | 41.53% | 46.07% | 58.08% | 45.60% |
| Boothbay Region High School | 48.15% | 64.10% | 70.45% | 60.00% |
| Brewer High School | 50.58% | 48.54% | 67.55% | 51.95% |
| Brunswick High School | 64.41% | 51.50% | 61.35% | 57.30% |
| Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | 35.90% | 40.63% | 65.63% | 38.89% |
| Bucksport High School | 56.32% | 48.98% | 70.73% | 49.46% |
| Calais Middle/High School | 62.96% | 43.55% | 52.24% | 52.63% |
| Camden Hills Regional High School | 56.38% | 69.05% | 65.06% | 57.14% |
| Cape Elizabeth High School | 72.39% | 67.81% | 71.19% | 59.59% |
| Caribou High School | 60.32% | 43.62% | 56.19% | 44.90% |
| Carrabec High School | 53.49% | 39.62% | 54.17% | 44.19% |
| Casco Bay High School | 62.75% | 71.58% | 84.54% | 47.83% |
| Central Aroostook Jr-Sr High School | 67.50% | 54.17% | 87.10% | 76.67% |
| Central High School | 50.00% | 34.72% | 57.33% | 43.55% |
| Community Downtown Campus | 35.29% | 24.00% | 25.00% | 15.38% |
| Cony High School | 40.00% | 46.15% | 55.48% | 45.03% |
| Deer Isle-Stonington High School | 57.69% | 57.14% | 83.33% | 45.00% |
| Deering High School | 51.07% | 47.76% | 45.65% | 35.44% |
| Dexter Regional High School | 43.08% | 44.44% | 55.38% | 36.51% |
| Dirigo High School | 43.33% | 40.91% | 43.86% | 30.36% |
| East Grand School | 77.78% | 33.33% | 42.86% | 33.33% |
| Easton Junior-Senior High School | 66.67% | 76.47% | 92.31% | 94.44% |
| Ecology Learning Center | N/A | N/A | 50.00% | 42.86% |
| Edward Little High School | 46.54% | 48.84% | 51.29% | 33.20% |
| Ellsworth High School | 55.65% | 60.16% | 63.57% | 47.41% |
| Erskine Academy | 63.91% | 47.01% | 72.44% | 53.33% |
| Falmouth High School | 64.20% | 62.42% | 69.64% | 62.18% |
| Forest Hills Consolidated School | 75.00% | 44.44% | 80.00% | 58.82% |
| Fort Fairfield Middle/High School | 56.67% | 70.37% | 50.00% | 61.29% |
| Fort Kent Community High School | 50.00% | 69.84% | 64.91% | 60.71% |
| Foxcroft Academy | 50.00% | 51.35% | 55.43% | 58.67% |
| Freeport High School | 58.62% | 61.64% | 71.43% | 63.91% |
| Fryeburg Academy | 55.56% | 64.15% | 63.96% | 53.10% |
| Gardiner Area High School | 42.41% | 46.98% | 56.17% | 52.38% |
| George Stevens Academy | 65.28% | 61.54% | 63.75% | 59.38% |
| Gorham High School | 66.98% | 66.95% | 74.74% | 59.21% |
| Gray-New Gloucester High School | 53.38% | 55.47% | 56.20% | 52.76% |
| Greely High School | 68.07% | 73.38% | 72.37% | 62.76% |
| Greenville Consolidated School | 63.64% | 69.23% | 66.67% | 78.57% |
| Hall-Dale Middle/High School | 48.33% | 50.65% | 67.80% | 54.00% |
| Hampden Academy | 61.26% | 61.08% | 65.20% | 53.53% |
| Hermon High School | 50.00% | 53.85% | 65.03% | 51.49% |
| Hodgdon High School | 56.76% | 40.63% | 56.25% | 63.64% |
| Houlton High School | 42.71% | 50.00% | 67.12% | 46.46% |
| Islesboro Central School | 76.92% | 80.00% | 85.71% | 50.00% |
| John Bapst Memorial High School | 84.95% | 81.82% | 87.50% | 69.81% |
| Jonesport-Beals High School | 73.68% | 76.47% | 57.89% | 38.46% |
| Katahdin Middle/High School | 66.67% | 73.33% | 75.00% | 35.00% |
| Kennebunk High School | 62.38% | 67.63% | 61.54% | 58.43% |
| Lake Region High School | 54.62% | 44.76% | 56.20% | 56.25% |
| Lawrence High School | 44.30% | 38.36% | 55.78% | 27.42% |
| Leavitt Area High School | 58.45% | 57.14% | 60.94% | 57.25% |
| Lee Academy | 36.36% | 44.44% | 37.50% | 54.17% |
| Lewiston High School | 32.16% | 36.71% | 41.89% | 29.60% |
| Lincoln Academy | 53.27% | 56.06% | 61.19% | 62.30% |
| Lisbon High School | 38.96% | 63.77% | 54.84% | 46.67% |
| Machias Memorial High School | 60.00% | 52.94% | 61.54% | 48.65% |
| Madawaska Middle/High School | 82.35% | 64.52% | 83.87% | 58.33% |
| Madison Area Memorial High School | 42.31% | 59.18% | 62.50% | 50.00% |
| Maine Academy of Natural Sciences | 12.96% | 20.00% | 26.67% | 20.45% |
| Maine Arts Academy | 26.47% | 21.62% | 52.38% | 42.37% |
| Maine Central Institute | 58.46% | 56.16% | 56.36% | 56.92% |
| Maine Connections Academy | 32.31% | 25.71% | 30.11% | 35.34% |
| Maine School of Science & Mathematics | 85.71% | 84.00% | 87.88% | 83.33% |
| Maine Virtual Academy | 25.35% | 22.62% | 41.76% | 25.88% |
| Maranacook Community High School | 69.05% | 51.58% | 74.36% | 52.75% |
| Marshwood High School | 59.52% | 53.74% | 74.15% | 56.62% |
| Massabesic High School | 38.96% | 42.38% | 46.86% | 45.66% |
| Mattanawcook Academy | 37.50% | 50.00% | 56.16% | 49.28% |
| Medomak Valley High School | 42.74% | 46.77% | 46.34% | 52.27% |
| Messalonskee High School | 54.97% | 54.71% | 55.56% | 53.04% |
| Monmouth Academy | 69.39% | 56.25% | 65.22% | 64.44% |
| Morse High School | 54.66% | 58.82% | 69.74% | 56.89% |
| Mountain Valley High School | 42.22% | 28.16% | 53.73% | 38.83% |
| Mt Abram Regional High School | 59.18% | 56.52% | 57.14% | 60.00% |
| Mt Ararat High School | 47.75% | 58.95% | 53.89% | 47.85% |
| Mt Blue High School | 52.29% | 48.37% | 54.94% | 39.63% |
| Mt Desert Island High School | 60.28% | 69.23% | 68.46% | 69.91% |
| Mt View High School | 58.75% | 54.29% | 64.94% | 39.24% |
| Narraguagus High School | 42.86% | 36.36% | 67.50% | 52.00% |
| Noble High School | 42.52% | 41.98% | 45.45% | 34.40% |
| Nokomis Regional High School | 41.13% | 44.94% | 46.20% | 40.14% |
| North Haven Community School | 100.00% | 100.00% | 66.67% | 22.22% |
| Oak Hill High School | 39.47% | 55.00% | 52.81% | 42.86% |
| Oceanside High School East | 51.45% | 42.06% | 40.95% | 33.06% |
| Old Orchard Beach High School | 53.97% | 47.50% | 40.82% | 45.83% |
| Old Town High School | 56.00% | 59.68% | 63.25% | 49.22% |
| Orono High School | 62.16% | 76.32% | 66.25% | 61.68% |
| Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School | 45.39% | 39.13% | 54.18% | 40.82% |
| Penobscot Valley High School | 63.89% | 43.24% | 56.67% | 39.47% |
| Penquis Valley High School | 45.10% | 12.50% | 36.73% | 24.24% |
| Piscataquis Community High School | 47.37% | 52.00% | 42.86% | 37.93% |
| Poland Regional High School | 52.34% | 54.95% | 58.52% | 44.64% |
| Portland High School | 64.65% | 62.67% | 64.06% | 44.95% |
| Presque Isle High School | 53.23% | 50.43% | 66.00% | 59.60% |
| Rangeley Lakes Regional School | 41.18% | 73.33% | 57.14% | 54.55% |
| Richmond High School | 54.29% | 35.48% | 57.14% | 42.86% |
| Robert W Traip Academy | 50.72% | 66.67% | 58.93% | 60.32% |
| Sacopee Valley High School | 47.54% | 43.75% | 61.43% | 49.18% |
| Sanford High School | 43.55% | 39.64% | 46.83% | 40.15% |
| Scarborough High School | 68.29% | 69.71% | 70.22% | 66.37% |
| Schenck High School | 57.14% | 57.69% | 73.68% | 39.13% |
| Searsport District High School | 50.00% | 66.67% | 53.85% | 46.15% |
| Shead High School | 50.00% | 53.33% | 52.17% | 63.64% |
| Skowhegan Area High School | 42.19% | 44.74% | 50.55% | 52.76% |
| So Aroostook School | 58.06% | 39.29% | 58.33% | 50.00% |
| South Portland High School | 52.81% | 55.02% | 55.56% | 42.51% |
| Spruce Mountain High School | 44.87% | 36.71% | 59.14% | 36.78% |
| Stearns Jr-Sr High School | 38.64% | 64.29% | 64.52% | 45.71% |
| Sumner Memorial High School | 37.78% | 51.02% | 57.58% | 48.53% |
| Telstar High School | 46.34% | 39.02% | 50.00% | 41.18% |
| Thornton Academy | 60.12% | 60.82% | 71.33% | 53.28% |
| Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School | 50.00% | 44.44% | 23.08% | 46.67% |
| Van Buren District Secondary School | 68.75% | 68.75% | 83.33% | 66.67% |
| Vinalhaven School | 44.44% | 21.43% | 55.56% | 40.00% |
| Washburn District High School | 62.50% | 46.43% | 56.00% | 60.00% |
| Washington Academy | 67.05% | 63.64% | 63.51% | 61.40% |
| Waterville Senior High School | 42.97% | 55.75% | 62.10% | 47.93% |
| Wells High School | 62.79% | 66.00% | 67.89% | 47.78% |
| Westbrook High School | 54.19% | 49.70% | 60.00% | 49.69% |
| Windham High School | 58.12% | 51.32% | 68.95% | 54.55% |
| Winslow High School | 75.61% | 67.65% | 72.73% | 58.02% |
| Winthrop High School | 79.25% | 70.00% | 74.55% | 52.78% |
| Wiscasset Middle High School | 60.98% | 48.48% | 50.00% | 41.94% |
| Wisdom Middle High School | 70.00% | 68.42% | 75.00% | 55.56% |
| Woodland Jr-Sr High School | 75.00% | 66.67% | 51.61% | 46.67% |
| Yarmouth High School | 68.92% | 64.89% | 63.70% | 61.90% |
| York High School | 67.48% | 67.13% | 71.90% | 68.80% |
Tools to Promote FAFSA Completion at Your School
- FAFSA Poster: Hang a FAFSA poster in your school or post it to your website.
- Postcards: Mail, hand out, or electronically send postcards to students.
- Phone, email, text, PA, and web scripts so you can call, email or text families using your communications systems or make a PA announcement during school. Download a Word document of all scripts:
Do-it-Yourself Tools to Share with Families
Many Maine families choose to tackle the FAFSA on their own. Here are some tools to help them get through the process:
- FAFSA Handouts: Download and share FAME’s most used FAFSA handouts from the Resources and Tools page.
- Videos: Share one (or several) of our short, animated videos on the financial aid process with your students and their parents.
Tools to Help Your Students and Families with Their Financial Aid Appeals
Students and families who have had a change in circumstance or a situation that impacts their ability to pay for college should contact their financial aid office. We created an Overview of Financial Aid Appeals to help guide your conversations with students and families. Additionally, we ask that you share Steps to Appeal a Financial Aid Offer with students and families to help them appeal their financial aid offer.
Encourage Your Students to Connect with FAME
FAME shares information about the FAFSA on social media and by email and text. Encourage your students to connect directly with FAME by following us on social media or joining our mailing list.
Share this link with your students to sign up to get texts and emails from FAME:
Financial Education Resources
One of the best ways to support Maine people and our future economy is to ensure that all Maine people have access to high-quality financial education in the classroom and at home. FAME offers extensive financial education resources to help you support your students and youth in your community.
