This report follows up on three previous papers published by New America that have examined the net price data for the 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2013-2014 academic years. In each of these publications, the share of public institutions charging low-income students an average net price over $10,000 has grown. Previous volumes of this report examined…

This report examines U.S. Department of Education data showing the average net price for students from families making $30,000 or less at more than 1,400 four-year colleges in the 2013-14 academic year. The analysis finds that hundreds of colleges expect the neediest to pay an amount that equals more than half of their families' yearly earnings.…

Imagine students attending colleges and universities around the country having their financial needs met without the use of federal loans, Pell Grants, and higher education tax credits. In "Starting from Scratch: A New Federal and State Partnership in Higher Education," New America's Higher Education Policy Program shares its vision for…

The nation's public and private four-year colleges and universities are in danger of shutting down what has long been a pathway to the middle class for low-income and working-class students, the Pell Grant. This report presents a new analysis of little-examined U.S. Department of Education data showing the "net price" -- the amount…

This report examines U.S. Department of Education data showing the net price -- the average amount of money that students and their families have to pay after all grant and scholarship aid is deducted from the listed price -- for low-income students at more than 1,400 four-year colleges in the 2011-12 academic year. The analysis finds that…

This article discusses exclusive deals between colleges and student-loan providers and the U.S. Education Department's initial move to solve the conflict. The Higher Education Act, which governs most federal student-aid programs, prohibits colleges from requiring their students to borrow from a specific bank or student-loan company. The law does…

Discusses how President Bush's 2004 budget proposal would erase the shortfall in Pell Grants, but many programs would receive no increases, and two would be eliminated. (EV)

Explores how for-profit colleges want to be defined as higher education institutions, for both the prestige and the money. The institutions are pushing Congress to change a key definition that prevents them from receiving certain kinds of federal aid. (EV)

If some lawmakers and community college leaders have their way, the amount of federal aid received by students at elite private colleges may be reduced. Private colleges say they will fight to protect federal aid that other institutions want for needy students. (SLD)

Discusses the "student work penalty" that occurs when students earn too much money to remain eligible for federal financial aid and describes some efforts to overturn this denial of eligibility. Community college students, who are likely to work, are particularly vulnerable to this denial of aid. (SLD)

Discusses how a 1998 law has denied federal financial aid to so many students convicted of past drug offenses that even its author wants to change it. (EV)

The federal Department of Education will help college students save money on loan interest if they consolidate loans in the direct lending program while in college. Some college lobbyists feel the administration has not done enough to cut fees and help students and colleges and, as a result, may lose direct-loan participants to bank-loan programs.…

Reports that the Education Department has cancelled Access America, a pilot program which allowed students to control their financial aid accounts over the World Wide Web. Finds that many colleges objected to lack of federal consultation with colleges. However, supporters say the pilot has shown the value of using the Web for this purpose. (DB)

Reports evidence that the federal government's three campus-based student aid programs are no longer serving needy students well, but rather benefit a select group of institutions. Urges changing the 20-year-old financial aid formula to better reflect changing college demographics. Contrasts aid received by students attending the University of…

A lawsuit against the National Science Foundation, alleging use of peer reviewers biased toward certain grant proposals and requesting information about peer reviewer identities, may lead to significant changes in how the federal government examines grant applications. Confidentiality of records and accountability for decisions are at issue. (MSE)