Knowing the academic outcomes of students who received contextual offers to higher education is important in understanding whether or not Scotland's Widening Access efforts have been successful in delivering impact to those from socio-economically deprived backgrounds. This study showed that once controlling for academic cohort, sex, ethnicity and…

Pursuant to California Education Code Section 69655(b), the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and the Board of Governors for California Community Colleges are pleased to release the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) Legislative Report. The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) program provides eligible,…

Approximately one in five undergraduate students, including around a quarter of first-generation students, are parents. These learners are highly motivated in their pursuit of postsecondary education, but face many challenges including time poverty, financial insecurity, and a low sense of belonging with their institution. To better understand the…

The pursuit of a master's degree is a significant academic endeavor, one that is influenced by a complex interplay of factors extending beyond traditional academic performance. In this study, we estimate the determinants of timely master's degree completion (i.e., within 3 years) using modern machine learning models such as random forest, decision…

Disabled college students face significant barriers to degree completion, including systemic inequities in financial aid policies. This Issue Article investigates financial aid policies that unfairly limit aid to disabled students, at times forcing them to choose between maximizing their financial aid and the recommended accommodations to which…

The present study examines the impact of on-campus childcare on student parent success. Researchers believe the role stress they experience while balancing their responsibilities as students and parents, combined with their increased likelihood of experiencing financial stressors relative to their peers, impact their success outcomes. Supports…

Recently new types of scholarships have emerged known as promise scholarships. A promise scholarship aims to increase collegiate attainment by promising financial aid to eligible students. Promise scholarships differ from traditional scholarships in that promise scholarships are non-competitive and not necessarily needs based. Typical eligibility…

The number of individuals with student loan debt who do not earn their degrees is on the rise; nevertheless, there is little research that demonstrates their current circumstances and future aspirations. We address this knowledge gap by comparing the financial distresses and re-enrollment aspirations of student debt-holders who started college but…

The financial aid process extends beyond once a student submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. Scholars have found that the financial aid process can be cumbersome, especially for minoritized students. What is unclear in the literature are the additional hurdles students encounter to obtain financial aid. I…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe reasons Federal Pell Grant-eligible community college students in California do not complete the financial aid process after submitting the FAFSA and the resources they need to complete the process. The conceptual framework of this study was Perna's (2006) multi-layered student…

In the United States today, there exists a very serious conversation over financial aid at all levels of education. The conversation going on nationally permeates every level of society: politics, the nuclear family, and the economy. Further, at this point in our national history, we have several generation gaps with respect to education and its…

Summer melt refers to applicants who showed intentions of starting college, but ultimately did not attend. The purpose of this program evaluation was to evaluate a text messaging intervention offered to community college applicants aimed at reducing summer melt of all students, but particularly first-generation students. Applicants often face…

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides over $1 billion dollars annually in taxpayer-funded financial assistance to a unique population of at-risk, economically-disadvantaged U.S. college students with limited options for employment-related development. Research on the effects of FWS participation, especially professional development, is…

Using data from four waves of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016, this study examines the effect of the PGIB on veterans' student loans. Results indicate that the PGIB has significantly affected veteran students' borrowing behavior, with an average $1,100 reduction in Stafford Loans. Veteran students…

This First Look report provides selected findings from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) Postsecondary Education Administrative Records Collection (PEAR). HSLS:09 follows a nationally representative sample of students who were ninth-graders in fall 2009 from high school into postsecondary education and the workforce. The PEAR…