This guide explains in a question-and-answer format the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Program, which is part of the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and is designed to help students and parents manage and repay money borrowed for postsecondary education, usually with just one monthly payment. Advantages of a Direct Consolidation…

This report provides a summary of the process parents must go through to participate in each of the nation's school choice programs, identifying problem areas in some programs. For the first time in one place, this report collects data on participation in each of the programs in current and previous years. Data are given for the number of students…

Information on financial aid, estimating financial need, managing money, and expenses at over 3,500 colleges is provided. College costs are based on the following: tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. The following financial aid sources are examined; the Pell Grant Program, the Supplemental…

This paper assesses the likely impact of proposed changes in the Office of Postsecondary Education's method of calculating parental base-year income on determining eligibility for student financial aid. In examining applicant data the study concludes that the change to use of prior, prior year (PPY) income is not a good proxy for the current prior…