College promise programs can be found in every state in the country, though they vary widely in design. Most programs aim to reduce the tuition and fees students pay with the goal of increasing educational attainment and reducing the financial burden on students. The NC Promise policy functions in this space by reducing tuition for all students…

To improve college access for low-income students, an increasing number of public colleges and universities have implemented no-loan policies, where student loans are replaced with institutional grant aid that does not require repayment. Using detailed income measures provided by Mobility Report Card data, this study examines the effect of no-loan…

Do state government policies and institutions promote access to postsecondary education by economically disadvantaged students? I analyze the number of state residents receiving federal Pell grants relative to the college-age population raised in low-income households. Using data for 1993-2008, I estimate separate models for total Pell recipients…

In this paper, we use economic concepts to examine the choice that states make between giving appropriations to public colleges or need-based financial aid to students. We begin by reviewing the economic justification for state support for higher education. Next, we introduce a simple economic model for comparing and contrasting appropriations and…

As state-level merit-based financial aid programs proliferate, analysts both find that these programs have a disproportionate effect on students traditionally under-represented in postsecondary education and question the use of limited public resources in an inefficient and inequitable manner. This study, using survey data regarding the…

Data collected in Los Angeles indicate that additional financial aid may have a diminishing impact on increasing access. The California Legislature-authorized study revealed that low levels of academic achievement, inadequate information, and inflexible admission policies are greater barriers to college for the poor than financial need.…

A study identified factors affecting college attendance by minority students in two groups: all high school seniors in 1982 and the subgroup that applied to college. Consistent with prior research, three factors of potential influence were identified: improved academic preparation; higher educational aspirations; and financial aid. (Author/MSE)

The effects of aid offers on enrollment decisions by college applicants from the classes of 1972, 1980, and 1982, and the effects the type of aid offered had on minority students are analyzed. All types of aid had a positive impact on decisions by college applicants including minority students. (Author/MLW)

A survey of 466 students in a large, urban commuter college investigated the relationship of student finances to academic persistence. Results suggest that financial aid (1) equalizes opportunities for students, thus decreasing attractiveness of alternatives, (2) facilitates academic and social integration, and (3) increases student commitment to…

Examines recent research on private returns to investment in baccalaureate and sub-baccalaureate postsecondary education, social returns to investment in higher education, and student responsiveness to tuition and financial aid. Focus is on implications for policy and practice in areas such as enrollment management, role of colleges in relation to…