Older and Parenting Students’ Access to Financial Aid and Benefit Programs: A Case Study of Four States

A recent report from New America examines the financial and social service support available to this growing student population, presenting findings from a mixed-methods study of older and parenting students’ access to financial aid and social service or safety net programs in four states: Colorado, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas.

How State Financial Aid Programs Propel Low-Income and First-Generation Students

Recent research by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) shows that nearly 75 percent of all students attend college in their home states, which is usually a requirement to receive state-based financial aid. However, due to the current patchwork of 50 different state aid systems, wide variation exists in both the assistance offered and its effectiveness in increasing college persistence and completion.

Rethinking Student Debt in the Age of the SAVE Plan

A new report from the Urban Institute examines how the Biden administration’s proposed Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan for income-driven repayment (IDR) of federal student loans will impact borrowers across fields of study and higher education sectors.

Unleashing the Power of Financial Aid to Equalize Postsecondary Education

The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) has released a new report based on data from over 2,400 institutions examining how changes in funding affect institutions where students receive a minimum economic return.

The Impact of Second Chance Pell on Higher Education Access in Prisons

Started by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) in 2015, the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative (SCP) was designed to explore the relationship between incarcerated peoples’ access to Pell Grants and their participation in higher education programs in state and federal prisons. A new brief by the Vera Institute of Justice offers an update on the initiative’s significant impact.

Adjusting the Federal “Satisfactory Academic Progress” Policy to Better Serve Students

College students who lose financial aid eligibility due to satisfactory academic progress (SAP) criteria face significant financial barriers to continuing in or returning to higher education. A new brief from Higher Learning Advocates explains how SAP can negatively impact certain populations of students.

How Campuses Can Help Prepare Borrowers for the Resumption of Student Loan Repayments

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators recently released a report providing guidance to college and university leaders on how to support borrowers waiting for their student loan repayments to resume or those beginning repayment.

Understanding and Responding to the Financial Struggles of Student Parents

In a new brief, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) shares findings from a national survey focused on student parents’ financial challenges and comparisons between student parents’ and non-parenting students’ financial circumstances, behaviors, and decisions related to funding or paying for their education.

Using SNAP Benefits to Reduce Student Food Insecurity and Improve College Completion

Today’s students must often navigate higher education and its associated costs while facing increased basic needs insecurity and limited need-based financial aid to close the gap. In a new brief, The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) suggests policy recommendations and changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to better meet students’ basic needs and position them to both enroll in and complete college degree programs.

Students of Color May Be Harmed by State-level Need-Based Aid Requirements

A new report from The Urban Institute highlights racial disparities in the distribution of state need-based aid. Using state enrollment data to assess patterns, researchers found consistent disparities existed in 11 states.

The Impact of FAFSA Completion on Pell Grant Funds

The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) has released data on Pell Grant distribution based on the number of high school graduates who had completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Over $3.6 billion of funding was left unallocated during 2022.

The Impact of COVID-19 Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed three pieces of legislation that granted a total of $76 million to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The Department of Education recently released a report detailing how this money was spent as well as the impact these funds had on student success and helping colleges and universities stay financially afloat.