The original World War II GI Bill fully subsidized education or job training for 7.8 million veterans, making college a realistic expectation rather than an impossible dream, and enabled millions to move to and develop the suburbs. This caused a true social revolution and fueled the longest economic boom in history. (MSE)

At the outset, few politicians and educators recognized the potential of the GI Bill, calling it unworkable. However, the GI Bill had many positive features and no disadvantages, causing unexpected numbers of veterans to take full advantage of it, creating enrollment and housing surprises for colleges and universities. (MSE)

Student borrowing for higher education has increased dramatically, and some students begin their adult lives with considerable debt. Financial burden measures should be incorporated into student loan repayment requirements and used to adjust either monthly or annual repayments or the period of repayment. Reducing debt burden would help make…

Discusses lessons concerning the financing of higher education drawn from previous recessions and describes the differences inherent in the current recession and its potential impact on growing college enrollments, particularly the increasing demand from low-income and minority students. (EV)

The crisis of education is one of the most pressing problems in the world today. Russia's crisis in this sphere has taken on the character of an emergency owing to the unprecedented wholesale cutbacks in budget funding. In this article, the authors discuss the commercialization of Russia's higher education, leading to its degradation and threat to…

This report describes the results of eight focus groups held in four cities to explore findings of a comprehensive review of more than 30 recent public opinion polls concerning higher education. These findings were: (1) higher education enjoys a reservoir of good will; (2) a college education is seen as an essential credential for success; (3) the…

This document is a record of testimony presented during a series of three hearings concerning changes that may be needed in the Stafford Loan Program, which each year generates the largest amount of financial assistance for college bound students. Testimony was heard from witnesses representing all sectors of postsecondary education, as were…

This report examines student financial assistance schemes in Australia in terms of their effectiveness and administration; particular reference is made to the findings of the Auditor-General's report on the administration of the Austudy program. The report discusses topics within the areas of program effectiveness, eligibility criteria, the…

This publication begins with a message from the President of the United States, George Bush, transmitting to the Congress the "Lifelong Learning Act of 1992." A draft of the proposed legislation to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 follows. Its key provisions, intended to encourage lifelong learning, are as follows: (1) to extend…

A study was conducted to determine whether college tuition increases in Arizona were placing a disproportionate burden on individuals at lower income levels. Statistical data from the 10-year census reports were analyzed to calculate tuition as a percentage of per capital income for the following groups: total population, White non-Hispanics,…

Though the rise in college student debt often has been blamed on rising tuition, a radical shift in student financial aid--from a system relying primarily on need-based grants to one dominated by loans--has been equally important. Numerous reports have highlighted the burdens faced by students who borrow large sums, but less is known about…

Argues for the comprehensive revision of funding relationships and mechanisms in British higher education, based on the principle of entitlement to lifetime learning. Outlines and discusses the concept of a Learning Bank to manage funding equitably, create a credit-based system of learning, provide flexibility through individual "learning…

Describes the new system of financial aid at Princeton University, which is designed to blunt Princeton's image as a school for wealthy students and to increase enrollment of gifted students from working class families. Whether this will in fact increase enrollment of black students at Princeton is questioned. (SLD)

The annual survey by the College Board of student financial aid traces development of a system that has grown dramatically, is now dominated by federal student loan programs, and has undergone a long-term shift in purpose from creating access for the disadvantaged to broadening choice and convenience for the middle class. These developments have…

The complexity of the federal tax code has been the focus of reform efforts for decades, and has received considerable attention in the economic literature. The federal system for distributing student financial aid is similarly convoluted, yet has received relatively little attention from economists. For the typical household, the aid application…