"Free college" (sometimes called Promise) programs are common in U.S. higher education. Reviewing 88 studies of 25 state and local programs, I provide a nuanced picture of the mechanisms through which these programs may work and their likely effects on students, communities, and colleges. Some commonly-claimed mechanisms for these…

Saudi Arabia has been one of the major contributors to the increasing number of international students in the United States. The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of resources provided to Saudi Arabian students while they are pursuing their postsecondary education using Lizzio's "Five Senses of Success Model" as a…

A college degree enables upward financial mobility--a college graduate's lifetime earnings are over 80% greater than those without a degree. Yet, systemic societal and educational constructs can create hurdles for students--particularly those who are historically underserved (e.g., Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and low-income students)--to gain…

This study employs difference-in-differences estimation to explore the relationship between the implementation of state merit-aid programs and students' participation in study abroad. The relationship between implementation of these financial aid programs and study abroad participation has not been tested explicitly in prior policy or education…

College is getting harder to afford every year. Debt mounts and jobs, especially in certain industries, don't necessarily provide the financial return they once did. It should come as no surprise to administrators that students and families are feeling the pinch. Rather than ignore the problem, higher education leaders, policymakers, and others…

This Statistics in Brief first examines merit aid and other non-need-based aid from all sources and then focuses on two sources of merit aid widely cited in empirical and policy-oriented literature--postsecondary institutions and states--examining how much merit aid students received and the characteristics of students who received it. It tracks…

African American and Hispanic participation in graduate and professional programs has increased over the last decade, but the literature on how these students financially support their education is limited. The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in financial aid awards and awarding patterns among African American, Hispanic and…

The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) program was designed to meet the unique needs of the state of Tennessee while also incorporating the hallmark elements of existing merit-based aid programs in other states. Developed through a process involving elected officials and members of the academic community, the TELS program aims to…

The 1988-89 Budget provides more detail on the Commonwealth's intentions for higher education as outlined in the Green and White Papers. This article focuses on one consequence of the Budget: the decline in operating grants per student in the period 1989 to 1991. Not all the data on expenditure and enrolments necessary for precise estimates are…

The Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship (KEES) is a merit-based scholarship program intended to increase college access, long-term academic commitment, and retention of top students within the state. KEES uses a heavily graduated award structure and both high school grade point average and standardized test scores to establish award amounts.…

The author provides general information on scholarships for students with academic, artistic, and athletic talents. Topics covered include (1) early planning, (2) sources of scholarship information, (3) recruiters, (4) school and other sources of aid, (5) the campus visit, and (6) alternatives to scholarships. A list of references is attached. (CH)

Prepared on behalf of the Emphasis on Excellence (Honors) Program for students interested in transferring from Miami-Dade Community College to a four-year institution, this booklet offers an annotated list of 154 transfer scholarships, based on information received from 103 colleges, universities, and foundations as of October 1987. Introductory…

The practice of parents shopping around, and then bartering their son or daughter from college to college is discussed. Those schools with the smallest endowment or designated scholarship resources are the ones who will not be able to compete with the "discounts" of the larger schools. (MLW)

A summary of data collected on financial assistance available to medical students through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education Annual Questionnaire of the Association of American Medical Colleges is presented. The 1982-83 report showed that while costs of medical education continued to increase, fewer students received financial aid. (MLW)

This collection of 31 presentation slides provides suggestions for students applying for health and physical education scholarships, offering guidelines and specific resource information. It focuses on myths (e.g., scholarships only go to the best students, obtaining a loan decreases the chances of receiving a scholarship, and paying for a…