This brief discusses student borrowing to pay for college in the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2000, student loan volume more than doubled in real terms from $16.4 billion to $37.5 billion, and the number of loans made annually also more than doubled, from 4.5 million to 9.4 million. Data, primarily from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study,…

This booklet describes grant and scholarship programs available to Oklahoma students. It opens with a chart showing tuition rates at Oklahoma colleges and universities and summarizes the average cost of attendance at Oklahoma's public institutions of higher education. The various aid programs are described in these sections: (1) state need-based…

As background to the National Dialogue on Student Financial Aid, this essay discusses the fundamental assumptions and aims that underlie the principles and policies of federal financial aid to students. These eight assumptions and aims are explored: (1) higher education is the province of states, and not of the federal government; (2) the costs of…

Describes how public colleges in some states have levied their biggest tuition increases in decades, while others are tightening residency requirements and charging new students more than their returning peers. (EV)

Profiles middle income undergraduates in comparison to their lower income and higher income counterparts, examines where middle income undergraduates enroll by price of attendance, and discusses how they pay for postsecondary education, including the role of financial aid. (Author)

This paper uses data from the 1979 and 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth cohorts (NLSY79 and NLSY97) to estimate changes in the effects of ability and family income on educational attainment for youth in their late teens during the early 1980s and early 2000s. Cognitive ability plays an important role in determining educational outcomes…

"Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators" is the authoritative source for accurate and relevant information on the state of education around the world. It provides data on the structure, finances, and performance of education systems in the OECD's 34 member countries, as well as a number of non-member G20 nations. Featuring more than 140…

The affordability of college is dependent on the cost of attendance, families' financial resources, and the financial aid available from federal, state, and other sources. This report examines college affordability for students who applied for federal financial aid. Less than half of all students (35%) apply for federal aid. In addition to federal…

In response to protest over double-digit college tuition increases, several states have slowed tuition growth. However, this trend threatens the value of prepaid tuition plans for investors. The financial return on prepaid tuition is largely tied to tuition rates, and the programs have been marketed as a hedge against rising tuition. Program…

Explores why California's ambitious new aid program, Cal Grants, misses its goals and shortchanges older students; millions in grants go unused while students complain of having eligibility taken away. (EV)

The continued growth of the Latino college-going population challenges college and university pesonnel to become better informed on the issues that affect persistence of this diverse group of students. This article reviews the current understanding of those personal, environmental, involvement, and socio-cultural factors influencing student…

During their senior year students in the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools develop a postsecondary plan. This plan outlines what students intend to do after graduating from high school; whether they are planning to attend a 4-year college/university, junior/community college, or vocational/technical school; seek employment…

Federal Student Aid's core mission is to ensure that all eligible Americans benefit from federal financial assistance--grants, loans and work-study programs--for education beyond high school. The programs administered comprise the nation's largest source of student aid: during the 2007-08 school year alone, approximately $83 billion in new aid was…

This publication brings together much of the information one might need to understand and discuss higher education issues. While this publication does not attempt to answer every question that may come up in discussions about higher education, it highlights the most often-asked questions about institutions, faculty, students, costs, budgets,…

This guide was produced for prospective students considering studying in the United States. The guide is organized to help students through all stages of the process, including learning about the U.S. higher education system, finding the right college, benefits of attending community college, obtaining a student visa, estimating expenses, living…