A framework for analyzing the federal government's responsibility for higher education finance is defined and used to describe how the government now carries out its responsibility. Evidence of shifts in financing patterns in recent years is reviewed, and the context for decision-making about the federal role is examined. (MSE)

Postsecondary student financing policies in the State of Washington are examined in this report that focuses on the interaction between federal and state student aid programs. The increasing importance of this type of investigation is noted in view of the recent growth in federal student aid. Financial aid available to students in Washington State…

In view of the large post-secondary enrollments of two-year colleges, and the heavy enrollment of students from low and moderate income families, their participation in institutionally administered federal financial assistance programs appears disproportionately low. The application, state allotment, and allocation procedures do not inherently…

Two programs being considered by Congress to aid middle-income college students in coping with ever increasing college costs are examined. Expansion of existing student aid programs to reach families higher on the income scale; or a new program of federal income tax credits for the expenses of higher education. The background of present policy…

This document summarizes the positions of interested parties on the extension and amendment of Title IV of the Higher Education Act. Charts compare legislative recommendations for the major student aid programs administered by the Office of Education, which now represent an investment of more than $2 billion in Federal resources. These programs…

The history of federal student financial aid legislation, 1965-1985, is traced, and problems faced in the mid-1980s, and possible future directions are considered. The Higher Education Act of 1965 was the first explicit federal commitment to equalizing college opportunities for needy students through grants and programs such as Talent Search. Some…

The role of policy research on federal aid to college students is considered. Attention is directed to the contributions of research to the origins of federal policies in the 1960s and the later expansion of benefits to middle-income students. In addition, recent research on the effects of student aid is reviewed, and the outlook for…

The current federal relationship to higher education and the historical underpinnings of this relationship are examined, along with a statistical profile of the federal fiscal impact on higher education. After sketching the historical division of responsibilities for education in the U.S. federal system, attention is directed to the central…

The evolution of student financial aid and current trends of increasing college costs and decreased federal aid are discussed. The objective of removing barriers to opportunity has resulted in the award of aid according to some measure of student and family need. While the need-based approach originated and evolved within the educational…

Federal aid has had many overlapping purposes and effects, from labor objectives to bolstering institutional enrollments, but the larger mission has been to help people realize their educational aspirations regardless of individual economic or social origins. The history and future of the democratization of college opportunities are discussed.…

This report was designed to provide complete and comparable statistics on student aid for all California postsecondary institutions from 1990 through 1994. It includes information on all major sources of financial aid, the types of aid available, the amount of funding for each type, and the distribution of student aid dollars among the three…

Federal policies toward higher education and their interaction (or lack of interaction) with state policies are described. Characterized are the differing historical roles played by the state and federal governments in shaping American higher education. Administrative arrangements, types, and dimensions of federal funding for students and…

The Education Amendments of 1980 of the Higher Education Act became law in October. The new higher education law is seen as ambitious in addressing complex issues with the management, delivery and targeting of federal assistance. The student loan explosion is discussed. (MLW)

This report presents data on the amount and types of financial assistance available to help students pay the costs of attending postsecondary institutions in California between 1990-91 and 1995-96, with some trend data going back to 1977-78. Sixteen charts and 12 tables update data on undergraduate student fees for California public colleges and…

The student aid function extends beyond the mechanistic implementation of programs--to the heart of institutional finance, enrollment prospects, and the character of the student body. The corporate role in student support, military needs and postsecondary financing, and college benefits in return for national service are discussed. (MLW)