Whereas community colleges and for-profit institutions both provide postsecondary educational opportunities, they are different in a host of dimensions. This brief describes some of those differences--not to win a debate or suggest public policy, but to show why comparisons made between the community colleges and for-profit institutions are more…

This paper is the fifth annual report on the cumulative student loan debt of recent graduates from public and private nonprofit colleges. This analysis of the latest available data found that the debt levels of students who graduate with loans continued to rise, with considerable variation among states as well as among colleges. This report…

The British system of student loans has a zero real rate of interest, less than it costs the government to borrow the money. This paper discusses the problems that arise from interest subsidies in the UK system of student loans; systems in other countries, for example Australia and New Zealand, face similar problems. The topic appears to be narrow…

It is argued that direct lending by the federal government to the student, characterized by direct financing, delivery, and communication, is a form of financial aid more cost effective than current programs such as the federal Guaranteed Student Loans. Direct loans can be better administered by the federal government, and protection against fraud…

The Education Department's calculation of student loan default rates is disputed. New Education Department regulations will strip federal loan money from students attending schools where large numbers of former students have defaulted. (MLW)

The change in student aid from 1980-81 to 1984-85 is outlined in tables. Estimates including federally supported programs, state grant programs, and institutionally awarded aid are included. (MLW)

International experience with student loans as a means of financing higher education is examined, with particular reference to developing countries. After summarizing the main purposes and kinds of student loan programs and practices in developed countries, advantages and disadvantages of loans as a means of financing higher education are…

A comparison was made of the practices of so-called multistate guaranty agencies with those of single state guaranty agencies, both operating under the provisions of the Stafford Student Loan Program (formerly the Guaranteed Student Loan Program). It expands on earlier results and provides data on trends in the growth of guaranteed loans and…

The private sector in higher education faces unique challenges related to financial aid, including tuition discounting, the precipitous rise in reliance on student loans, and recycling tuition dollars. An example illustrates the importance of institutional research on financial aid issues in this context of rapid change, and the value of…

Federal costs of the National Direct Student Loan (NDSL) program and the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) program are compared, and alternatives to the current system of student financial assistance are discussed. It is estimated that over the life of the loan, the long-term federal costs of GSL and NDSL per dollar loaned are approximately the same…

Two government-induced distortions generate an excess demand for entry into the Greek higher education system. In Greece the private cost of higher education is too low and the government-set wage rate too high, thus contributing to the excess demand for higher education and an apparent "graduate unemployment" problem. (MLW)

The California Guaranteed Student Loan Program is described, and information is provided on the characteristics of student borrowers. Attention is also directed to: the effect of students' total accumulated indebtedness on their education and careers; California's default rates compared with those of other states; differences among institutions in…

A reference guide to federal student assistance programs is presented with a description and history of funding provided for each. For most programs, there is an analysis of the distribution of funding by sector, type of institution, and state. Information is also included on sources of revenue for public and private colleges and universities,…

A report by the Board of Regents on student financial aid programs in New York State is presented. During 1979-80, the estimated average Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) awards increased in all undergraduate sectors and helped to offset tuition increases in both the independent and public sectors. Guaranteed student loans continued to increase in…

A limited statistical report of student aid dollars in each of the states is presented. The report covers only the following programs: Basic Education Opportunity Grant Program, Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant Program, State Student Incentive Grant Program, College Work Study Program, The National Direct Student Loan Program, the…