July 10–11
Pew Charitable Trusts
901 E Street NW, Washington, D.C.
PNPI’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) Boot Camp is back! This two-day learning event is a unique opportunity to expand your knowledge of federal student aid, build connections in the field, and strengthen your ability to assess, create, and influence federal postsecondary policy.
Boot camp participants generally include staff from nonprofits, think tanks, and national associations, as well as public policy students interested in a career in higher education policy. Attendees will engage with their peers, learn from current policy professionals, and leave with a solid understanding of FSA.
A limited number of scholarships are available for students — see below for more details.
Learning Objectives
The FSA Boot Camp will feature expert speakers and engaging sessions designed to improve your knowledge and understanding of key topics related to FSA, including:
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Student Aid Index (SAI)
- The Federal Pell Grant Program
- Federal student loans and demographics of student borrowers
- Financial, institutional, and socioeconomic characteristics of student debt
Federal student aid repayment programs.
FSA Boot Camp participants have the opportunity to earn a digital badge, a virtual credential that can be shared with your current and future employers and added to your LinkedIn profile.
View the boot camp agenda by clicking on the image below.
The FSA Boot Camp is designed to benefit people who work in, aspire to work in, or study federal postsecondary policy. This includes nonprofit, think tank, and national association staff; public policy students interested in a career in federal higher education policy; and members of the media who cover higher education.
The content is appropriate for those new to higher education policy as well as experienced practitioners who need to stay abreast of recent developments.
Student Registrant : $99
(Must be a degree-seeking student at a federally accredited institution and must email a copy of student ID to pnpi@pnpi.org to verify student status and enrollment.)
Nonprofit/Government Registrant: $299
(Must register with a .org or .gov email address)
General Registrant: $449
PNPI alumni get 10% off of their registration fee using the code “pnpialum.”
Participants who cancel their registrations more than a week before the boot camp will receive a full refund minus a small administrative fee. Participants who cancel their registrations less than a week before the boot camp will forfeit the entirety of their registration fee.
PNPI offers a limited number of scholarships for graduate students and undergraduate students (at two- and four-year institutions) who demonstrate both an interest in federal higher education policy and financial need. Eligibility is limited to students who can demonstrate that they are Pell Grant recipients or Pell-eligible (more below). Scholarships include: the boot camp registration fee, round-trip fare to/from Washington, D.C., and meals while in D.C.
Eligibility Requirements:
Must demonstrate financial need. Undergraduate students (at both two- and four-year institutions) must have received a Pell Grant for the most recent semester. Graduate students must have received a Pell Grant in their senior year of undergraduate studies verified by their financial aid award letter and demonstrate Pell eligibility for the most recent academic year verified by a family contribution of less than $5,300 on their Student Aid Report (SAR) from the U.S. Department of Education.
All majors/fields of study accepted, but candidates must demonstrate an interest in postsecondary education policy or practice.
Must commit to attending all sessions during the boot camp.
Scholarship recipients must commit to attending a networking dinner with PNPI staff.
PNPI gives participants a digital credential for completing the 2025 FSA Boot Camp. All badge earners will receive an email inviting them to claim their badge within 30 days of course completion.
Offered on the Credly platform, digital badges can be displayed in email signatures, on electronic copies of a résumé, and on social media sites like LinkedIn. There is no fee for the badge, and acceptance of the badge lies with the participant once it is issued by PNPI.
PNPI’s digital badge gives participants:
- A web-enabled version of their credential that can easily be shared online
- Labor market insights that relate your skills to jobs
- A trusted method for real-time credential verification
The digital badge is ONLY available to participants who complete the boot camp and submit a completed course evaluation. You can read more about the badge by clicking on the badge icon below.
