Promise programs are discussed as a policy movement that began with the 2005 launch of the Kalamazoo Promise. Since then, programs bearing the Promise label or sharing similar features have spread across the higher educational landscape, appearing in most states and across postsecondary sectors. Simultaneously, scholarly literature discussing…

Objective: This paper provides evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of federal and state financial aid programs in supporting community college students. Method: I use a regression discontinuity design that takes advantage of discontinuities in the Pell Grant formula known as Automatic-Zero Estimated Family Contribution to estimate the…

There are significant levels of poverty and child poverty in Scotland and research has focussed on the impact of poverty on school education. However, there is more limited research on the impact of poverty on students in higher education in Scotland and the wider UK. This study focussed on the poverty experienced by students on an undergraduate…

This qualitative study employs thematic analysis of open-ended survey data to examine how 187 low-income college students in a need- based scholarship and support program perceive contributors to their success and barriers they face. Using an abductive approach that integrates inductive coding with theoretical alignment, we identified key themes,…

This research examines the relationship between financial aid, price, and the enrollment decisions of first-generation college students. Using human capital and socio-cultural theories in conjunction with previous research, the study establishes a conceptual framework to assess how personal, academic, and college variables associate with a…

Government programs impose eligibility requirements to balance the goals of improving welfare while minimizing waste. We study the impact of eligibility monitoring in the context of Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submissions, where students may be subject to "verification" requirements that require them to confirm…

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and the Workforce that was held to examine the implications of Biden's student loan policies for students and taxpayers. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Burgess Owens, Chairman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development; and (2)…

Although research has explored what college students struggle to understand about financial aid, no research has investigated how at-risk students on financial aid probation articulate their financial aid knowledge and the gaps in that knowledge. As a result, this content analysis investigates online discussion board posts from a credit-bearing…

Purpose and Method of Study: This study focused on the relationship between the cost of undergraduate education (COUE) and graduation rates in four-year institutions in Oklahoma. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the cost of undergraduate education (COUE) and graduation rates at four-year higher education…

This report describes how six Colorado community colleges used $1.4 million of pandemic relief funding to support individuals pursuing short-term credentials. The authors examined state and college decisions about program eligibility, student eligibility, grant amounts, funding uses, and application requirements as well as outcomes for those…

The phenomenological research study explores the lived experience of Black first-generation college students navigating the financial aid process to understand how they experience the process of using financial aid to pay for college through degree attainment. Higher education is aligned with social and occupational mobility. Financial aid has its…

Nontuition expenses--including housing, food, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses, in addition to books and supplies--constitute a significant financial burden for many students pursuing higher education, even if they receive grant aid to help them pay tuition and fees. Well-designed policy interventions at both the federal and state levels…

A four-year college degree is associated with numerous positive outcomes for students, from increased average earning potential to opportunities for personal development. Yet, for individuals with disabilities, large medical bills and other disability-related expenses may make affording college especially difficult. This study used a convergent…

Many scholars have argued that it may be more costly to attend a far-away college than it is to attend a nearby college. If this is true, students who live in areas where colleges are few and far between may face higher costs than those with ample college options. This study assesses the plausibility of this line of reasoning by examining the…

Florida College System (FCS) institutions are among the nation's best public colleges. They provide open access to higher education and provide the primary access point to undergraduate education for many Floridians, including recent high school graduates and returning adult students. The 28 member colleges respond quickly and efficiently to meet…