Decades of research has suggested that completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be a complex, difficult process for postsecondary students and their support networks. However, no extant research has informed federal student aid practitioners and researchers as to what federal student aid jargon terms institutions of…

A growing body of research indicates that proactive outreach from high schools and college access organizations about college preparation tasks, and specifically focusing on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), results in increased college enrollment. Comparatively less attention has been paid to the role of colleges…

In 2009, President Obama called for a simplification of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), resulting in the average family completing the FAFSA in 20 minutes. Yet, during the 2013-2014 college application season, nearly 900,000 Pell Grant-eligible high school graduates did not complete the FAFSA, leaving $2.9 billion in Pell…

Presents changes necessary to make the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program run more effectively: discontinuing the use of separate applications and allowing the institution the ultimate control over awarding the grant. (Author/PG)

A model of student enrollment behavior based on the concept of consumer choice is proposed as an alternative to traditional models of college choice. (MSE)

Reports a study comparing information from federal income tax returns with that on the Parents' Confidential Statement for student financial aid applications at California State University, Long Beach. Results correspond with those of a similar national study: Although the majority of parents provide accurate information, verifying data is still…

The practices of "gapping" (the practice of meeting only part of the financial need) and denying admission based on need are discussed. Some schools would deny aid to some of those admitted who have financial need. This practice is referred to as "admit/deny." (MLW)

Presents an equation to help determine risks in student loan programs at colleges and universities. Statistical tables accompany the text. (PG)

A survey of applicants accepted by a major research university found that among the most sought-after applicants, academic scholarships and other forms of forms of financial aid were more likely to have influenced college choice, putting the institution with minimal non-need-based financial aid at a competitive disadvantage. (MSE)

A study of applicants to an urban public university investigated the effect of scholarship size on attendance and persistence, impact of scholarship students on the school, and potential effects of different distributions of scholarship funds. Results suggest institutions using large scholarships should examine yield and persistence rates. (MSE)

Analyzes the influence of student aid on enrollment decisions of all accepted applicants at four institutions. Student aid was negatively associated with first-time enrollment, indicating that, in most cases, the amount of aid available was insufficient relative to the cost of college attendance. This suggests that institutions need to study their…

A survey of 19 diverse two- and four-year colleges in Ohio investigated the availability and use of online applications for college admission, parent and student awareness of and planning for financial aid, the perceived value and cost-effectiveness of online aid applications, and public-policy implications relating to the use of technology for…

This article focuses on the Web-based resources available to low-income students as they build their perceptions, make their decisions, and engage in financial aid activities. Data are gathered from the results of six focus groups with low-income high school students attending urban high schools. Findings suggest that low-income students do have…

For several decades, education has assumed a vital role in this country's economic, social, and political development, catapulting less advantaged citizens into higher social classes and the political process. A testament to education's fundamental importance in our society are the numerous programs designed during the 1960s to eliminate the…