Using a panel dataset from 2000 to 2014, this paper employs a difference-in-difference design to consider the impact of the introduction of a "promise program" on postsecondary institutions' internal spending levels and patterns. We find that promise programs influence postsecondary institutional behavior in every area we tested:…

Financial aid opens the door to a college degree and makes higher education a real possibility for students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Student knowledge about financial aid availability and application processes, however, varies substantially by race, ethnicity, and income. Despite belonging to families with lower-than-average family…

In 2022, New Mexico joined the list of states that adopted a statewide promise program, offering tuition and fee assistance for eligible students to pursue higher education. The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship (NMOS) differs from existing programs by including part-time and summer enrollment, academic and workforce degrees, and older adult…

In 2016 Chile initiated a policy of free tuition for students from families in the lower half of the income distribution to improve access to and completion of higher education. The empirical effectiveness of the policy has not yet been completely demonstrated. This study analysed the difference in levels of academic performance of students…

Congress enacted section 117 of the Higher Education Act, as amended, (Section 117) mandating financial transparency of institutions of higher education (institution) through required reporting of gifts from and contracts with a foreign source. Applicable institutions must file a disclosure report by one of the two annual reporting deadlines,…

This brief presents insights on the challenges faced by fathers in college, using 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey (SFWS) data to highlight the unique experiences and financial behaviors of over 1,300 male parenting students.

Private loans are one of the riskiest ways to finance a college education. Like credit cards, these bank- and lender-originated loans typically have variable interest rates, and these rates are often higher for those who can least afford them. Private loans are not eligible for critical protections and supports that are afforded to federal student…

This report is the testimony and views of Preston Cooper, a senior fellow focusing on the economics of higher education at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), to the US House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust about the pricing and spending practices of Ivy League…

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) annual survey of tuition and fees collects data on resident and nonresident tuition and fees at public two- and four-year institutions in the WICHE region for undergraduate and graduate students. WICHE administered the most recent survey to state higher education executive offices,…

Community college students must navigate complex financial aid policies and procedures to obtain their aid award. In this study, I investigated how Students of Color at a community college experience financial aid disbursements. Through qualitative interviews, I found that community colleges disburse aid to students through a process I define as…

This fact sheet outlines how the Federal Pell Grant serves as a key tool for addressing educational inequities faced by Latino students, who are disproportionately impacted by the racial wealth gap and systemic financial barriers to higher education.

Student veterans are a unique population on college/university campuses who may face numerous obstacles associated with transitioning from service member to student. One of the most daunting challenges these student veterans face occurs when they earn a grade for Failure for Nonattendance (FA). The GI Bill ®/Post 9/11 benefits that student…

Refugees have a significantly lower rate of higher education enrollment than the rest of the population, which can contribute to continued dependency on donors and can lower their chances of geographical and social mobility. This study sought to investigate the obstacles and facilitators which can support refugee enrollment and success throughout…

Using data from 27 European countries in the academic years 2005/06, 2010/11, and 2015/16, we investigate the association between student funding policies and student labour during term time -- a phenomenon often seen as detrimental for higher education outcomes. Income substitution effects between entitlements to different types of financial aid…

Although United States (U.S.) community college enrollment rose in 2023, the sector has contracted by 37% since 2010, representing millions of students. As a result, community college practitioners should ensure that individuals understand financial aid information to apply for aid and access community colleges. Here, this study gathered federal…