Updated: July 21, 2017

State officials say Tennessee has set a record for federal college aid applications.

Gov. Bill Haslam’s office said Thursday that 73.5 percent of Tennessee high school seniors submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 2017-18.

Tennessee students must file a FAFSA to qualify for federal and state aid, including Tennessee Promise and the HOPE Lottery Scholarship.

Haslam’s office says the FAFSA rate helps indicate how many students plan to undertake post-secondary schooling.

Tennessee’s Drive to 55 aims to have 55 percent of Tennesseans with a post-secondary degree or certificate by 2025.