The Chronicle of Higher Education
March 28, 2022 Pre-College Outreach, Value and Affordability
Last year, $3.75B in federal Pell Grants were left unclaimed by high school graduates who failed to complete a FAFSA. States are now requiring students to complete a FAFSA in order to graduate. It is imperative that students take advantage of unclaimed financial aid, especially as the COVID pandemic has impacted both college enrollment and FAFSA completion.
Inside Higher Ed
March 22, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
Scholarships for students suffering with psychological disorders have proliferated in recent years. Often funded by donors who lost loved ones to mental illness, the scholarships range in eligibility and criteria. Such scholarships can be particularly useful because students with mental health needs may face unique financial barriers when attending college.
Inside Higher Ed
March 17, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
When students are in crisis, they often connect with academic advisers, professors, resident assistants or student affairs staff. As such, these points of contact must be aware of financial wellness resources, such as emergency financial assistance and proactive financial literacy information, to assist students. A one-stop model focused on student financial business can make finding assistance and information more streamlined for students.
Higher Ed. Dive
March 15, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Research-oriented public colleges raised tuition rates in recent years. Despite this, low-income students paid less to attend those institutions. This suggests public research universities provided more financial aid to students as they increased their sticker prices. However, the high-tuition, high-aid price model only broadly benefits those from the lowest income brackets.
Inside Higher Ed
February 18, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
College and university endowments grew by at least 20 percent in fiscal year 2021. The average value increased by 35 percent to $1.1 billion. The median endowment size swelled to $200 million. Surveyed institutions posted a median return of 30.1 percent in fiscal 2021, compared with 1.8 percent in 2020. While growing endowments are good for institutions, very few students benefit from the high returns.
Higher Ed. Dive
February 10, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
The jobs crisis has been top of mind for employer-facing interest groups. The pandemic also put the spotlight on worker retraining, especially after mass layoffs. The US House of Representatives passed am omnibus bill Feb. 4. The amendments would make Pell grants available for rapid retraining programs and provide accurate and timely information to drive better decisions.
Inside Higher Ed
January 12, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
High school juniors who believe they can’t afford higher education are less likely to attend college within the first three years after high school. College affordability is particularly a concern for first-generation students. Among those studied, the group least likely to enroll in college were students who believed they could not afford college and had at least one parent with a high school diploma or less. Across low-income states, families are required spend a significant percent of their income for a family member’s college education.
Inside Higher Ed
January 05, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
The pandemic illuminates the issues faced by low-income, first-generation or racial minority students. Students face issues like affordability, maintaining their enrollment status, and other academic and personal concerns. Colleges face structural barriers that drive inequity, including the pandemic and a long-overdue racial reckoning. Universities use continuous improvement to improve affordability, teaching and learning, and holistic student support.
Higher Ed. Dive
December 02, 2021 Student Success, Value and Affordability
A new survey of “disengaged learners” found financial reasons to be the top cause for stepping away. The longer a former student stays away, the less likely they are to reenroll. Reaching personal goals are a deciding factor for returning students. More than half of respondents were full-time employees in the retail or food industry, with a yearly household income of $50,000 or less. Institutions can offer the following to entice students to return: certificates for credits earned, less expensive classes, workshops to address students’ problems, counseling and help through concierge services.
Higher Ed. Dive
November 08, 2021 Research, Value and Affordability
The share of students selected for verification has reduced from 40% to 23% this year, due to reduced requirements because of the pandemic. However, the agency wants to resume full verification for the next cycle. Majority of students selected for verification are Pell grant recipients. However, the federal government should allow the IRS to share income data with the Education Department to eliminate the verification requirement for these students.