After announcing that colleges may not receive students’ Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data until early March, Education Department officials said they are providing additional resources to help under-resourced schools and students manage the compressed financial aid process.
Topics: Policy
Pennsylvania’s new blueprint for state colleges focuses on access, affordability
Pennsylvania’s governor has proposed an overhaul of the state’s public higher education system aimed at improving workforce development and increasing college access and affordability for low- and middle-income families.
Delays, glitches in the new FAFSA frustrate families
College applicants have encountered problems during the “soft launch” of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, leaving students and their families worried they will not receive financial aid packages in time to make informed college choices.
Federal and state policies try to curb transcript withholding
As policymakers grow more concerned about transcript holds, federal and state lawmakers are looking for ways to close loopholes and protect students unable to repay federal or private loans.
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.
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.