CSAC Race to Submit Competition Press Release

Sacramento, CA, July 13, 2026 — The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) today announced the winners of the annual statewide “Race to Submit” competition for the 2026-27 award year, celebrating the incredible efforts of public high schools and school districts across California to expand college affordability. This year’s winners contributed to historic outreach that resulted in 70% of the High School Class of 2026 completed a financial aid application by June 30th.

The Race to Submit initiative is a cornerstone of CSAC’s Student Success Blueprint, which prioritizes Access, Support, and Success. By encouraging healthy competition, the initiative aims to boost completion rates for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) — critical first steps toward securing the workforce needs and advancing economic mobility across the state.

Tracking Success Across the State
From October 1, 2025, through the competition deadline on June 30, 2026, the Race to Submit Online Dashboard actively tracked application progress at the high school, district, county, and state levels. Factoring in the certified enrollment counts from the California Department of Education, schools were ranked across two major metrics:

• Top 10 Leaders: Schools achieving the highest percentage of completed FAFSAs/CADAAs matched to student GPAs.
• Most Improved: Schools that demonstrated the highest growth percentage in completions compared to the prior year, while achieving a minimum 50% baseline completion rate for the current year.

Note: The complete list of winning schools and districts by category and region can be viewed directly on the Race to Submit Leaderboard. “Completing a financial aid application is one of the most powerful steps a student can do to unlock access to higher education,” said Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission. “The dedication we’ve seen from counselors, administrators, and communities to support the Class of 2026 has been inspiring. These awards recognize high school leadership that empowers students to take the next step toward higher education, and these numbers represent real students who now have a clear path to higher education in our state.”

Perspectives from throughout California

“As a first-generation college graduate, I know firsthand how life-changing financial aid can be. Without it, my path to higher education would have looked very different,” said Assemblymember Caloza. “That’s why I’m incredibly proud to congratulate the outstanding schools in my district for being recognized as Race to Submit winners. Every FAFSA or California Dream Act Application completed represents a student taking a meaningful step toward achieving their dreams. By helping students and families navigate the financial aid process, these schools are expanding opportunities, breaking down financial barriers, and ensuring more young people can pursue college, career training, and the futures they deserve. Thank you to the counselors, educators, school staff, and families whose commitment is helping make higher education more accessible for the next generation of Californians.” The surge in high school completions is not only led by local high schools but involves strategic county-wide leadership fueled by CSAC’s Cal-SOAP’s and local leaders.

“In the Los Angeles area, CALSOAP LA’s financial aid completion efforts are strengthened by the dedicated support of school counselors and administrators who recognize the critical role that financial aid plays in students’ postsecondary success,” said Yicel Paez, Cal-SOAP LA Director. “Using tools such as WebGrants 4 Students and Race to Submit, CALSOAP LA works with consortium high schools to develop targeted outreach strategies that increase financial aid application completion, with a particular focus on supporting the most vulnerable student populations. In addition to school-based outreach, CALSOAP LA partners with universities, nonprofit organizations, parent groups, and initiatives such as LA Cash for College (UNITE-LA) to provide financial aid presentations and workshops throughout the region. These collaborative outreach efforts expand access to accurate financial aid information and reinforce the importance of completing financial aid applications, helping more students pursue and achieve their postsecondary goals.”

California’s Current Financial Aid Landscape

The data from the Class of 2026 highlights California’s continued leadership in college affordability. This year, we saw nearly 10,000 more Cal Grant awards than the class of 2025. Regionally, the top 10 districts that improved the most in financial aid applications compared to last year are:
1. Los Angeles USD
2. San Diego USD
3. Oakland USD
4. Kern High SD
5. San Francisco USD6. East Side Union USD
7. Fresno USD
8. San Juan USD
9. Grossmont Union High SD
10. Sacramento City USD

Nationally, California continues to rank among the top states for financial aid application completion, with the current rank being 6th for FAFSA completion. The Race to Submit competition accounts for both FAFSA and CADAA application completion.

Applications Still Open: Important September 2 Deadline

While the high school competition has officially concluded, CSAC reminds students and families that the window to secure financial aid is not closed. Crucially, students planning to attend a California Community College have until September 2, 2026, to submit their FAFSA or CADAA to remain eligible for a Cal Grant award. Free support resources are available to help families complete their forms accurately before the deadline:

• Online Resources: Step-by-step instructions and priority timelines can be found on the CSAC How to Apply webpage.

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The California Student Aid Commission currently serves over 2.2 million students and administers over $3.9 billion of student financial aid programs and services, including the Cal Grant, the Middle Class Scholarship, and the California Dream Act Application. The Commission serves as a resource for policymakers and the public on college affordability and financing issues, and advocates for policy changes to eliminate cost as a barrier to any qualified California student pursuing a higher education. Visit our website at www.csac.ca.gov or follow us on social media by clicking on our Link Tree.