We examine the likely implications of switching from a prior year (PY) financial aid system, the current practice in which students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using income data from the previous tax year, to prior-prior year (PPY), in which data from two years before enrollment is used. While PPY allows students to…

Transitions to postsecondary education for GED graduates are a growing concern for educators and policy makers. This article analyzes the educational, demographic, and financial characteristics of Pennsylvania postsecondary students with a GED credential compared with traditional high school graduates, and identifies rural-urban differences within…

This staff report on unserved students (students who commit to attend but do not enroll at a college or university) focuses on whether adequate financial resources could be a reason for their non-attendance. Applicants were categorized by need and by the date of their application for financial aid; and further classified as potential students of…

Volume 1 of this document reports the results of a telephone survey of approximately 3,600 student and parent borrowers who originated loans during the 1994-95 academic year using two Title IV Federal student loan programs, the Direct Loan and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programs. The objective of the survey was to provide baseline…

Student financial aid is the primary means by which the federal government encourages broad access to higher education and promotes an educated citizenry, and it is a major component of Washington State's efforts to ensure necessary educational opportunities for its residents. This report provides an overview of both federal and Washington State…

This paper assesses the likely impact of proposed changes in the Office of Postsecondary Education's method of calculating parental base-year income on determining eligibility for student financial aid. In examining applicant data the study concludes that the change to use of prior, prior year (PPY) income is not a good proxy for the current prior…