The purpose of this publication is to describe how a school becomes eligible to participate in the Student Financial Assistance (SFA) programs and to explain the administrative and fiscal requirements of SFA program participation. In addition, this publication discusses other issues relevant to the general administration of the SFA programs. Major…

This study examined the persistence of and financial aid to needy students, underrepresented minority students, and women students, especially those majoring in science, engineering, and mathematics at a large public research university. An institutional student tracking and student financial aid database was used to follow four freshmen cohorts…

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the parental role in higher education. It is on various data sources, including a nationally representative survey of 750 parents of current college students. The report addresses issues ranging from selecting an institution, to paying tuition, to patterns of saving and borrowing, to the demographic…

The Education Amendments of 1980 of the Higher Education Act became law in October. The new higher education law is seen as ambitious in addressing complex issues with the management, delivery and targeting of federal assistance. The student loan explosion is discussed. (MLW)

Discussion of the need for the Perkins Loan Program examines recent trends in borrowing under this and the Stafford Loan Program, comparing demographic characteristics, income levels, educational costs, and financial-need levels of loan recipients. It is concluded that the Perkins program continues to play a vital role in providing need-based aid…

The Secretary is amending the Federal Student Aid Program regulations to implement the changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), resulting from the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA), Public Law Number 109-171, and other recently enacted legislation. These interim final regulations reflect the provisions of the…

The Secretary is amending the Federal Student Aid Program regulations to implement the changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), resulting from the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA), Public Law 109-171, and other recently enacted legislation. These final regulations reflect the provisions of the HERA that…

This month the Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling's Commission on the Future of Higher Education issued its final report, calling for systemic changes at the nation's colleges and universities. Declaring "we must not be blind to the less inspiring realities of postsecondary education in our country," the 19-member panel issued six primary…

With financial aid data on over 14,000 aided students at Williams College for the past 14 years, we can describe how much students actually paid to go to this highly selective and expensive school--their net prices--across income levels and over time. In 2001-02, the last year of our data, aided students across the five income quintiles of the US…

The escalating cost of college tuition seems to be on everyone's minds these days. Particularly concerned are low-income students, who are often averse to taking out loans for fear of jeopardizing their own, as well as their families', financial situation. Experts say economically disadvantaged students of all races are worse off if the only aid…

MDRC launched Opening Doors in 2003 to study the effects of community college programs designed to help students persist in school and earn a credential. This report presents early results from the Opening Doors program at Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio, which operated from 2004 through 2006. The two-semester program served students whose…

Latinos are the youngest and fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. It is imperative that institutional leaders and decision makers have a better understanding of Latino students today in order to shape the policies and practices to serve college students in the future. Currently, disparate statistics about Latino students in higher…

Financial aid-related information and services are provided to students and families in a variety of ways. The timing of when information is shared with these groups also varies. Financial aid information is typically provided through events sponsored by high schools, colleges and universities, and multiple community and government-sponsored…

"Connection" presents its "Annual Directory of New England Colleges and Universities," providing a wealth of information on New England higher education. For more than a quarter of a century, this college and university directory has been the publication of record for those seeking important information about New England…

Undocumented immigrant students in California are eligible to receive only private scholarships that "[aren't] enough to support a very expensive education," says CCLC CEO Scott Lay. Dr. Gerardo E. de los Santos, CEO of the League for Innovation in the Community College, calls "serving the undocumented" one of the major…