The issues, problems, and prospects of federal student aid are addressed in three papers and an introduction. In the introduction, David W. Breneman considers implications of the Middle Income Student Assistance Act and developments that raise questions about the foundation of student aid programs. In "Why Strains on Need-Based Financial Aid…

A study was made to determine: (1) which students apply for financial aid; (2) which students receive financial aid; (3) the role of medical schools, federal and state governments, private foundations and lending institutions, and the student and their parents in supplying the income needed to meet student expenses; and (4) the types of income…

This study examined the use of private education loans at high-cost private colleges and universities. Responses were received from 100 of the 381 institutions who reported undergraduate tuition and fees, or professional school tuition and fees, of $14,000 or higher in 1996-1997. It was found that on most campuses private student loans play a…

This report provides college student tuition charges and fees for the 1999-2000 academic year at public four-year institutions, as well as comparative data for the 1998-99 academic year. The report notes that this year marked the smallest percentage tuition and fee increases in over a decade, with the average cost to undergraduate resident…

Barriers which may prevent Mexican American women from participating in higher education include: sex role restrictions, low socioeconomic status, lack of parental financial support, "culture shock," and traditional admissions criteria. Programs designed to provide financial and motivational support are desirable to help break down the…

Research findings regarding the impact of financial aid on the academic lives of college students, their grades, their academic loads, and their persistence are summarized. The five areas of financial aid studied are parental support, scholarships and grants, loans, work, and aid packages. (Author/JMD)

Comparison of federal need-analysis formulas for student financial aid in 1992-93 and 1993-94 focused on elimination of home/farm equity from calculations, parent contributions, and Pell Grant awards. Results suggest higher unmet need and lower Pell Grant awards, and imply that the most needy students may lose gift assistance to more affluent…

This study surveyed 228 students at 4 institutions of higher education in South Wales about their educational debt, finances, employment, and reason for pursuing higher education. It found that although 69% of them had not taken out loans, nearly a third of those who had taken out loans had debt levels above 1,000 pounds. (MDM)

Suggests ways to improve child support enforcement. Getting the child support system out of the courts to the extent possible and providing government guarantees of child support are two types of proposals that must be considered. A final necessity is increasing welfare benefits to a subsistence level. (SLD)

This collection of five essays on public higher education in New York State treats challenges and conditions for public institutions during the current and continuing conditions of financial austerity. The first, "Productivity and Cost Containment: The Challenge of Public Sector Budgeting" looks at financial management and budgeting as…

The Task Force on Student Financial Aid was formed to recommend ways in which Massachusetts' student aid programs might be modified in light of nationwide trends of rising college costs, reduced availability of federal student assistance, and a decline in the ability of many families to pay for college. The first chapter of the task force report,…

Summaries of conference presentations on college savings and prepayment plans and related tax, policy, and social issues are provided. The conference objective was to communicate the issues to constituents with the most at stake: parents, students, and relatives; state and federal legislators and staff; and developers of plans for higher education…

As a part of a study on financing higher education in California, information is presented on student loans and alternative methods of financing. Part 1 reviews problems caused by a heavy reliance on the federal Guaranteed Student Loan program (GSL). It discusses troubles of the GSL program; the lack of policy purpose; program costs; defaults;…

Data on various aspects of the revenues flowing into colleges and universities during the mid and late 1970s are provided. Attention is directed to the total amount of financial resources used for higher education, the way that the total has changed in recent years in absolute and relative terms, and who contributes what portion of the total. The…

A step-by-step guide to paying for college is presented that tells how and where to apply for financial aid, lists expenses at 3,200 schools and colleges, and shows how to estimate financial need. The book also describes how a student can manage money more effectively in order to live on a limited budget; tells how some students and families…