This document is part of the "50-State Comparison: Postsecondary Governance Structures," which provides a comprehensive summary of the various entities that make up postsecondary governance ecosystems in each state and the District of Columbia. This document provides the following information regarding administrative and advisory…

This document contains all of the data points of the "50-State Comparison: Postsecondary Governance Structures," which provides a comprehensive summary of the various entities that make up postsecondary governance ecosystems in each state and the District of Columbia. This document provides the following information for each state: (1)…

To provide information on the current landscape among financial aid offices and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion for admitted first-year undergraduate students, the Research Department at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) recruited current financial aid administrators at public and…

Low student completion rates have increased pressure on college and university administrators across the country to raise retention and graduation rates and have forced the review of many practices on campus. This qualitative study aimed to examine the effects of financial aid on higher educational persistence among African American males.…

For 25 years, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has surveyed financial aid professionals to understand the environment in which they administer student aid. These surveys identify resource shortages that may hinder the delivery of financial aid services, explore the causes of these shortages, and assess the…

In May 2025, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conducted a national survey of financial aid professionals to understand how the March 2025 reduction in force (RIF) at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA)--along with related federal directives to dismantle ED--are…

Enrollment Management offices serve a vital role in the recruitment and retention of students. Despite the rapid evolution of the field, little research exists exploring the competencies needed for success. A job advertisement analysis identified a number of similar competencies needed across enrollment management, as well as competencies unique…

On February 2, 2023, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) distributed a survey to 3,367 primary contacts at NASFAA member institutions. This survey asked participants to rate their institution's level of preparedness for individual provisions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)…

The real price of college keeps rising, and it often surprises students and their families.1 People know tuition is expensive. They also usually account for books and supplies, even if they might cost more than expected. Still, they don't always expect or fully understand how the price of housing, food, and transportation factor in. It's not their…

The violence of incarceration creates greater responsibility for higher education administrators in supporting students who are in prison. Using focus group data with incarcerated students and formerly incarcerated alumni who participated in or are actively participating in Second Chance Pell, we explore their perceptions and understandings of the…

As a follow-up to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) February 2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification Pre-Implementation Survey, NASFAA administered a post-implementation Survey in October 2024 to at least one contact at NASFAA membership institutions with 2,906 potential…

The process of applying for and receiving student financial aid is an incredibly complex process involving multiple stakeholders (students, institutions, parents, counselors), levels of information (federal, state, institutional, personal), and modes of communication (print, email, text message, social media, phone calls). Moreover,…

In July 2025, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conducted a second national survey of financial aid administrators to assess how the March 2025 reduction in force (RIF) at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA)--along with broader efforts to dismantle ED--are continuing…

The Administrative Capability Task Force was convened by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) to deliver a report containing recommendations that could provide better support for financial aid offices, ensuring they are able to meet administrative capability standards. The task force comprised a geographically…

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) convened the Examining Software Providers' Compliance With the NASFAA Code of Conduct Working Group in September 2019 to research and analyze the role that student financial aid management software plays in institutions' ability to provide accurate and clear aid offers. The…