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.
Topics: Policy
DC schools receive grant to help more students from underserved communities go to college
The U.S. Department of Education is providing $21 million in grants for coaching, workshops, and scholarships to help hundreds of Washington, DC, middle schoolers persist through high school and prepare for college.
New federal policy aims to protect student borrowers, ban most transcript withholding
The U.S. Department of Education released regulations that restrict higher education institutions from withholding course credit, protect students enrolled in schools at risk for sudden closure, and ensure schools clearly communicate how much financial aid students will receive.
Education Department awards millions for campus child care programs
The federal government is providing over $13 million for on-campus child care services that aid low-income student parents as they juggle their family and academic obligations.
California becomes latest state to grant Mexico residents living near the border access to in-state tuition
A new California law allows binational students, many of whom were born and go to school in the U.S. but live in Mexico, to pay in-state tuition at participating community colleges.
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.
States with aging populations pay students to stay after graduation
Facing a shortage of skilled workers, some states are implementing programs that offer to help college graduates pay off their student loans if they agree to stay and work for a set period of time.
Georgia joins growing number of states trying direct admissions
Georgia has launched a new direct admissions program, which aims to increase college access by telling students that colleges are “holding a spot” for them and making it easy to apply.
New regulations promise to help students avoid programs that leave them with ‘poor career prospects’
The Department of Education will require college career programs to disclose earnings outcomes for graduates and reveal if they leave students with unaffordable amounts of student loan debt.
Biden Administration offers guidance on building diverse college campuses
A new report from the Department of Education recommends ways states and highly selective colleges and universities can expand college access and affordability to increase racial and economic diversity.
Report urges Congress to address persistent underfunding of Black land-grant universities
For decades, state and federal governments have disproportionately funded white land-grant universities while Black land-grant universities operated “on shoestring budgets.” A new report provides policy recommendations to close funding gaps.
End of affirmative action not an excuse to end diversity efforts, Biden Administration says
The Departments of Education and Justice explained the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision to end race-conscious affirmative action and offered guidance on how U.S. colleges and universities can continue to diversify their campuses.