Experts say that making students’ federal financial aid conditional on “satisfactory academic progress” punishes students who have the fewest resources to help them complete their degree. State and federal lawmakers are working to create more student-friendly policies.
Topics: Financial aid
New aid formula expected to significantly expand Pell Grant eligibility
Forthcoming changes to the federal student aid application and formula could increase the amount of Pell Grants students receive and allow nearly 220,000 more students to gain Pell Grant eligibility, according to a new report.
FAFSA simplification delays leave applicants, colleges on hold
A much-anticipated redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has delayed the form’s release this aid cycle, creating uncertainty for colleges, counselors, and families alike.
Over 360 colleges pledge to give students clearer, more accurate financial aid offers
A coalition of higher education associations announced that hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities have committed to simplifying financial aid offers and sharing estimated net prices with students and their families.
Unmet financial need a major barrier to higher education for low-income students, students of color
A new analysis reveals that most families struggle to cover college costs, with students from low-income households and underrepresented groups facing the largest gaps between what they can afford and how much they have to pay to attend college.
The ‘August surprise’: When more outside scholarships lead to less financial aid from colleges
Students and families can be caught off guard when outside scholarships actually count against their eligibility for institutional financial aid, leaving them struggling to cover college costs they didn’t expect to shoulder.
What’s ahead for student loan forgiveness?
Hours after the Supreme Court ended the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness plan, President Biden announced plans for a new path to debt relief.
Stony Brook University receives $500M—largest unrestricted endowment gift to a college in U.S. history
The transformative gift from the Simons Foundation will fund student scholarships, endowed professorships, and clinical care at the university—a flagship school in the State University of New York system, widely known as an engine of social mobility.
LGBTQ+ students estranged from their parents face obstacles to getting financial aid
Many LGBTQ+ students separated from their immediate families due to a lack of acceptance find it nearly impossible to access federal financial aid, which by law requires parents to submit their financial information.
Tuition discounts at private colleges and universities hit record high
U.S. colleges and universities are offering ever-greater discounts to make their institutions more affordable and attractive as they compete for students who are increasingly concerned about the value of a college education.
Financial aid shifting from lower-income students to higher-income students, analysis finds
At nearly 700 colleges and universities across the country, net prices have risen more rapidly for the lowest-income students than for their highest-income peers, says The Hechinger Report.
Year-round Pell Grants linked to improved retention, earnings
A new study finds that students eligible for year-round Pell Grants had higher degree attainment rates and earnings than students who could not access the grants for summer sessions.