In 2009, President Obama called for a simplification of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), resulting in the average family completing the FAFSA in 20 minutes. Yet, during the 2013-2014 college application season, nearly 900,000 Pell Grant-eligible high school graduates did not complete the FAFSA, leaving $2.9 billion in Pell…

The rising cost of higher education and questions of affordability are concerns for many families in the United States, but particularly for those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. The knowledge of, information about, and perceptions related to how to pay for college can impact preparatory actions taken by families to prepare to pay…

In 2010, McCracken County, Kentucky implemented the Community Scholarship Program (CSP) to provide graduates of high schools in the county an opportunity to receive a tuition-free community college education. Quantitative data was collected throughout the various stages of student progress through the program. As the first cohort of CSP students…

The Pittsburgh Promise is a scholarship program that provides $5,000 per year toward college tuition for public high school graduates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who earned a 2.5 GPA and a 90% attendance record. This study used a difference-in-difference design to assess whether the introduction of the Promise scholarship program directly…

This study focuses on how low-income students determine employment and student loan borrowing options before they begin college, as part of the final stages of their college choice process. More specifically, this study asks, "during a six-week summer transition program, what choices are made by low-income students with employment or borrowing…

While a number of studies have examined outcomes associated with early intervention programs that have a financial aid component, few have examined the experiences of student beneficiaries of those programs and the administrators charged with carrying out state mandates associated with the implementation of the programs. This gap in the literature…

This research compares three different models implemented in four cities. The models integrated free tax-preparation services to assist low-income families with their completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There has been an increased focus on simplifying the FAFSA process. However, simplification is not the only…

Since its inception in 1993, Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program has provided thousands of state residents the opportunity to pursue a college education. This study examines the history and recent changes to the merit-based program along with interesting consequences resulting from its implementation. This study demonstrates how the program has…

This study examines the effectiveness of a scholarship workshop program to better prepare low socio-economic and minority students to compete for collegiate scholarships. The study involves 1,367 high risk 9th to 12th grade students in Texas. Analysis of the pre- and post tests, using a t-test for dependent variables, indicates a statistically…

A nationwide survey of 1980 high school seniors conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) showed a significant lack of knowledge among prospective college students regarding financial aid programs. The question of whether college attendance is dependent on knowledge of financial aid programs is discussed. (MLW)

A review of the literature on the impact of student financial aid on its stated goals of student access, choice, and retention concludes that its principal objectives are being accomplished. Further research is recommended, to be funded in part by a portion of the public aid allocated for financial aid. (MSE)

A reanalysis of American College Testing Program data found systematic relationships between student ability, family income, and college choice set characteristics for a general college-bound sample (n=6930) but not for students (n=254) who had applied for financial aid. Implications are drawn for using financial aid to increase student choice of…

A model training module is described that offers high school counselors familiarity with student financial aid options for college-bound students. The package includes information on need analysis, definitions of aid available, identification of major resource areas, Michigan aggregate dollar statistics, and a list of policy-related questions.…

A survey of parents of college-bound high school students (1996 and 1997-99) considered separately) found widespread belief that college education is a worthwhile investment for economic and personal reasons, despite high cost. Most could provide cost figures for public colleges. Expected sources for funding college varied. Many save little for…

A study investigated the variables associated with high school students' sensitivity to tuition in the college-choice process, interaction of tuition and student aid, relationship of family and student characteristics to this sensitivity, and the roles of student perceptions and student institutional connections in price sensitivity. Subjects were…