Higher education has long been viewed as a social elevator. The path to a higher education credential, however, is complicated for students from low-income and/or minoritized communities. This report provides a snapshot of digital tools designed to help students with college exploration, college admissions, and financial planning. To set the…

Results of a national survey of financial aid officers provides information on current computer capabilities and the status of technological innovation in financial aid office administration. Obstacles to innovation and reasons to innovate were also investigated. (MSE)

A study of staffing averages at institutions categorized by numbers of financial aid applicants provides a gauge by which institutions may evaluate staffing levels. The data are intended to be useful to financial aid administrators in evaluating the adequacy of the numbers and types of their staff. (MLW)

Findings of a California committee that investigated computer-based student aid search services are examined. In mid-1982, over 40 computer search organizations had been identified. A survey of the organizations found that almost all were private-for-profit firms. Only four of the respondents that offer a direct service to students maintain their…

A survey of financial aid officers in 50 state universities concerning information dissemination about graduate student scholarships is reported. Specific suggestions are given, e.g., establishing a computerized or microfiche system to organize information for individual or printout access, increasing publicity by a variety of means, and getting…

A test of a reputable scholarship search service using a fictitious student and characteristics revealed that the aid source information obtained was only fair in relevance and response rate to follow-up inquiry. Students are advised to concentrate on more productive sources of information: colleges, personal contacts, and publications. (MSE)

The level and composition of student financial aid for undergraduate students were estimated, with attention to estimated number of aid recipients, the total amount they received, the distribution of aided students by their families' income level, the composition of their aid packages, and the use of computers in the administration of aid. In…