Examines whether undergraduate students are incurring excessive debt to finance college attendance. Using data on debt levels for 1982-83 full-time college seniors in California, the study concludes that no more than four percent of dependent students and five percent of independent students have excessive debt. Includes six tables, seven notes,…

Problems in defining the independent student are reviewed and the promise of California's Assembly Bill 4027 is described. It modifies the definition and focuses on establishing a different basis for distributing grant aid. (LBH)

Reasons for the increasing numbers of independent college students are considered, with attention to the provision for independent students in the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant (Pell) program. The availability of grants to independent students may have two consequences: college students under age 22 with access to parental resources might…

This study examined characteristics of youth emancipated from child welfare (ECW) and probation (EPR) supervised foster care; receipt of mental health services for emancipating youth; births to emancipating females; deaths of youth who emancipated from foster care; receipt of Medi-Cal due to AFDC/TANF, SSI/disability, or medical indigence after…

A large survey of postsecondary students in California was used to test the sensitivity of alternate definitions of the independent student population on the number and proportion of independent students, to trace the cost implications of these alternate definitions, and to offer conclusions about the effects of these definitional changes. (MLW)

Definitions of manageable college student debts are discussed and one definition is applied to California data, using the Student Expenses and Resources Survey. Definitions proposed by Daniere, Hartman, and Horch define manageable debt levels in terms of future income. A comparison of the three proposals shows the number of years of repayment…

This booklet reports on focus groups organized by the California Youth Connection (CYC) in which foster youth across California discussed their experiences. Results of these focus groups were evaluated to see how the experiences matched current assumptions and knowledge. The intent of this booklet is to accurately depict the ideas, concerns, and…

A study was performed at the Los Rios Community College District (LRCCD), in California, to measure changes in enrollment and educational access due to a 67% increase in statewide community college fees and a $40-per-unit "differential fee" for students already holding a bachelor's degree or higher (BA+). The study was divided into four…

Findings are presented from the first two phases of a planned, three-phase survey to assess the impact of a recently imposed mandatory fee on California community college enrollments as measured by changes in student ethnicity, income, and academic load; and on enrollment in college non-credit education. First, introductory material provides…

In spring 1984, a study of the socioeconomic characteristics of California's community college students was conducted in order to determine the impact of a recently imposed mandatory fee as measured by changes in student ethnicity, income, and academic load. A stratified random sample of 10,247 students from 62 of the state's 105 community…

Characteristics of students and their family/personal income was studied for each of the four segments of California higher education to determine how college costs were met. Data sources were the 1982-1983 Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS) and student data files. Major findings include the following: In 1982, more than 300,000…

A three-phase study was conducted in California to assess the impact of a mandatory fee imposed in 1985 on enrollments in the California community colleges as measured by changes in students' ethnicity, income, and academic load, and changes in enrollment in college non-credit education. A benchmark study conducted in spring 1984 prior to the…

The results of a study conducted to assess the impact of the recently imposed mandatory fee on California community college enrollments are presented in this report. Following a summary, background information, and materials on the timing and content of the study, findings are presented with regard to the impact of the fee on student enrollment;…