This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development of the Committee on Education and the Workforce that was held to examine lowering costs and increasing value for students, institutions, and taxpayers. Opening statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Burgess Owens, Chairman,…

Harris-Stowe State University is a relatively small university located in Missouri's largest metropolitan area. Yet the students at Harris-Stowe are clearly different from the students at the other eleven Missouri public universities. The student body of Harris-Stowe is predominantly African American, over 85 percent. Harris-Stowe State University…

In 2004 and 2005, the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education (Pell Institute), sponsored by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), published two editions of "Indicators of Opportunity in Higher Education." In 2015, the commitment to documenting trends in higher education equity was renewed by publishing…

Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in competency-based education, a learning modality which is mastery-based, self-paced and focused on demonstrations of knowledge and skill rather than where or how they were attained (C-BEN, 2016; Cuckler, 2016; Tate & Klein-Collins, 2015; U.S. Department of Education, 2002). The face of higher…

High levels of student debt can hamper recent graduates as they start their adult lives and careers, influence their choice of job, location, or the decision to pursue further education (Asher 2009). At the same time, student loans are a vital source of financing for students looking to pursue higher education and, if managed appropriately,…

This toolkit serves as a comprehensive resource on the issue of higher education access and success for homeless students, including information on understanding homeless students, assisting homeless students in choosing a school, helping homeless students pay for application-related expenses, assisting homeless students in finding financial aid…

This article discusses the possible effects on community colleges of the increasing inclination of governments to channel aid to higher education through students, rather than to institutions directly, as exemplified by the Federal Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program. A study of state grant recipients in five states indicates that student…

Financial support to college students and public and private colleges in Pennsylvania is described. The philosophy in Pennsylvania regarding the survival of private institutions is to provide money to the students, the consumers, and let them decide which institutions fit their basic needs and goals. Pennsylvania has established the Pennsylvania…

The growing campus role in providing student financial aid is discussed based on data from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program, Peterson's Guide, and other sources. The campus contribution to student aid programs has grown far more than recent tuition increases. A significant portion of the financial aid burden has passed from federal…

Current proposals to assist middle-income groups with college costs and estimates of the burden to parents in different income groups are considered. Reasons for discontent by middle-income and upper-income groups regarding college costs are considered in relation to the following issues: the demographic squeeze, the temptation to choose high-cost…

Questions are examined concerning the effectiveness and efficiency of the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant financial aid program in providing equality of choice between public and private institutions. The research question is: given the initial preferences for either public or private institutions, what is the probability that a student will…

A total of 180 projects supported by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education under its 1979-80 Comprehensive Program are described. The Comprehensive Program is viewed as the core of the Fund's activities providing improved access and quality in postsecondary education by addressing a broad range of educational needs. Project…

A guide for students seeking financial aid is presented. Students are advised to begin by assessing their position: what they like to do, what sort of lifestyle they want, whether their parents agree with the career goals, and whether their goals are realistic. Factors to consider in choosing a college are noted and a list of useful publications…

Current federal student financial assistance programs are described, and their impact on access to and choice of postsecondary education are assessed. In addition, recommendations and policy options for promoting educational opportunity are offered. Findings of the following eight studies are analyzed: (1) changes in college attendance and student…