Education Dive
June 12, 2020 Student Success, Value and Affordability
FAFSA renewals are down from last year through mid-April, with an increase in administrative financial aid award appeals. Pandemic-related financial concerns can prevent students from re-enrolling in fall 2020.
The Washington Post
November 30, 2019 Student Success, Value and Affordability
The 2018 federal spending increase for child-care programs has helped some colleges and universities provide child care for students who have children. However, this funding is not enough to meet all of the needs of the students or to ensure that their children have a spot in the limited number of seats in child care programs offered. Lawmakers and university administrators are looking to increase funding to provide more flexibility and resources to students with children.
The Hechinger Report
October 02, 2019 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
The proportion of middle-class students at colleges and universities has been quietly declining. Reasons cited for non-enrollment include family obligations, planning to take a gap year, not feeling ready to attend, not having a desire to attend, and expenses associated with enrollment, as many middle-class parents increasingly have their own college debt to pay.
USA Today
July 30, 2019 Value and Affordability
In a recent Twitter poll run by USA Today, 45% of 41,025 participants claimed cost is their primary consideration when choosing a college or university. Cost consciousness, however, is not the same as being able to afford the price of school. Another Twitter poll concluded that while 42% of future enrollees’ families were planning to use income and savings to fund their child’s education, the remainder planned to rely on a mix of loans, scholarships, and credit cards to cover costs.
The Hechinger Report
July 22, 2019 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
As national student debt continues to climb, more than 10% of new borrowers regularly default as they leave post-secondary education. More than 60% of those in default have small loans of less than $10,000. In recent years, however, there’s been a surge in the number of students utilizing big loans to finance their education, with 17% leaving school with more than $50,000 of federal student loan debt. With this growth, scholars are identifying new types of big borrowers: lower-income adults and parents.
Inside Higher Ed
July 10, 2019 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success, Value and Affordability
In an effort to boost the number of students receiving financial support for college, Texas will soon become the second state to require high school seniors to complete the FAFSA prior to graduation. Completing the FAFSA is a leading indicator of college enrollment, with ample evidence that more financial aid is associated with college completion outcomes.
Inside Higher Ed
June 10, 2019 Student Success, Value and Affordability
A new study reports from a purely financial view, earning a bachelor’s degree remains a good investment. Although premiums and wages fluctuate, college graduates still earn more on average than their high school graduate counterparts, with an average difference in wages between $30,000-$35,000.
The New York Times
May 28, 2019 Value and Affordability
College graduates around the world were asked what they paid for higher education and how they financed it. Over 800 responses from students across 40+ countries show how government policies can shape the personal and professional choices of young adults as they begin their careers.
Education Dive
May 22, 2019 Student Success, Value and Affordability
Flagship universities in 46 states have grown their non-need-based aid pools faster than need-based, as tuition discounting has been used to grow enrollment and attract wealthier students. However, some colleges are recently walking back their focus on merit and academic scholarships in order to focus on need-based aid.
Education Dive
May 22, 2019 Student Success, Value and Affordability
The Federal Work-Study program has existed for more than half a century, but many are concerned it is not fulfilling at least two of its mandates: helping low-income students afford college and offering employment that aligns with academic and/or career goals. Proposed legislative change will help allocate additional money and resources toward the program to make it more beneficial for the students it serves.