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…

Research suggests that low-income high school students may opt out of preparing for college, because they believe a postsecondary education is more than they or their parents can afford. At the same time, federal agencies and some state agencies have indicated that every year available student aid goes unused. In response to these misconceptions…

The Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI) survey of California Latino youth perceptions of college financial aid reveals: (1) Ninety-eight percent of respondents felt it was important to have a college education; (2) Thirty-eight percent of respondents did not feel the benefits of college outweigh the costs; (3) Not being able to work and incurring…