Financial aid makes up the bulk of federal higher education spending, but do those dollars make a difference to needy students? A look at Federal Work-Study and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant allocations show that a disproportionate amount of funding goes to private universities with high tuition and low Federal Pell Grant…

Aware that rising costs could force some community colleges to compromise their long-standing open-door policies, administrators have put in place programs and incentives to offset the higher price of the average community college education. This article features ideas and programs to help struggling community colleges cope with rising costs such…

Despite near universal acceptance in the value of higher education for individuals and society, college persistence rates in 4-year and community colleges are low. Only 57% of students who began college at a 4-year institution in 2001 had completed a bachelor's degree by 2007, and only 28% of community college students who started school in 2005…

At Berea College all students work 10 to 20 hours a week on campus in a compulsory labor program and pay no tuition. The college maintains high academic standards, and students often use their work experience in later employment. (MSE)

The aggregate financing of student aid by the federal government, state governments, and institutions over the past 25 years is discussed. Trends in the composition of aid delivered (grants, loans, and work study) are described. Over time comparisons in the numbers of recipients and aid per recipient are given by programs. (Author/MLW)

Congress has begun to rewrite the Higher Education Act, the federal law that authorizes student aid programs like Pell Grants, student loans, Federal Work-Study, TRIO and GEAR UP. This will mark the eighth time that the law has been formally revisited since it was enacted in 1965. It is still early in the process and it is uncertain what the…

"Chronicle of Higher Education" presents an abundant source of news and information for college and university faculty members and administrators. This February 27, 2004 issue of "Chronicle for Higher Education" includes the following articles: (1) "My Life as an Adjunct after a Full Career" (Caesar, Terry); (2) "Are You the Retiring Sort?" (Ms.…

Five institutions are considering whether the job requirements that they have are having any impact on students' feelings about public-service work and what form that impact takes. All five are private, liberal-arts colleges that require students to hold jobs in exchange for low, or no, tuition. (MLW)

The Education Department's 1988 budget plan would require students to put more of their income toward paying college costs, and it would eliminate some student-aid programs such as College Work Study. The department's top priority was the education of younger children and ensuring that people graduate from high school. (MLW)