The dream of an accessible education will now become a reality for many New Hampshire youngsters, thanks to a new University of New Hampshire (UNH) initiative called the Granite Guarantee Program. The UNH Granite Guarantee will begin with the incoming freshman class in fall 2017. An estimated 400 New Hampshire students will benefit from the…

Free college programs have been around for some time, but they have proliferated in recent years, prompted by rising college costs, mounting student debt, and the United States' urgent need for a more educated workforce. But while these free college, or "promise" programs have the potential to make a higher education more affordable and…

As the price of a public college education has risen at well above the rate of inflation for decades, college affordability has become a key concern in public policy discussions. At the same time, recent high school graduates from lower-income and middle-income families are nearly 20 percentage points less likely to enroll in college the following…

At the request of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) conducted a review of Oklahoma's Promise program between August 2017 and February 2018. This report summarizes findings and observations from the review and provides recommendations. The review is organized around five areas of interest…

This booklet describes the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Program, known as the Texas Tomorrow Fund. The fund allows parents or others wishing to finance a child's education to prepay tuition and required fees as a condition of enrollment for 1 to 4 years of education at Texas colleges and universities. It can also give a student a big…

A discussion of Florida's college tuition prepayment program describes the plan and its options and examines its marketing implications as a preneed service. It is concluded that the program makes saving for college easy, economical, and completely safe but requires rethinking of conventional marketing strategies and mix. (MSE)

This report examined state tuition prepayment programs (STPPs) in Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, focusing on how the programs operate and the participation rates they have achieved. It also assessed the income level of program participants, options for increasing the participation of lower-income families, and…

This guide provides information about the various college student loan programs that exist and are available for use within North Carolina. Listed are specific programs that are available from the Federal, State, and private sectors. When possible, the following information is provided with each program: (1) eligibility requirements; (2) the…

A Massachusetts plan involving 67 colleges allows parents to invest in state bonds and redeem them later, at original value plus 2% above inflation rate, for a guaranteed percentage of tuition. Plan improves on strategies tested by other states. Supporters foresee more college applicants and less need for student aid. (MSE)

This report contains recommendations for changes to New York's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to be considered during the 1997 legislative session. It outlines the principal options addressed by the task force, the historical context of the TAP, and the cost of meeting full tuition and non-tuition allowances through state and federal grants and…

This paper presents an overview of student financial aid in Washington State, reports trends in college costs and state population, and explores the relationship between student aid and broader higher education policies. Chapters include discussions on the following: (1) college costs and affordability; (2) tuition policy and its relationship to…

DePaul University (Illinois) has addressed the problem of delays in employer reimbursement of tuition costs by extending payment due dates and treating reimbursement as pending financial assistance. Since implementation, enrollment in courses designed specifically for adult students have increased, and withdrawals have decreased. One-third of…

The Rhode Island Children's Crusade for Higher Education, funded by state and private sources, is an ambitious, large-scale, long-term effort to prevent dropouts, illegal drug use, and pregnancy among low-income and minority groups. Recruitment of volunteer "mentors" has been highly successful, suggesting strong public support. (MSE)

This report presents policies to enhance academic preparation and progress, assist needy students, and keep college costs affordable in Illinois, and indicates the implementation status of these policies. These policies are designed to heighten awareness among students and families of the effect of academic preparation and sustained academic…

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…