In Indiana, higher education and postsecondary degrees are not accessible to all. Indiana is one of eight states with legislation specifically prohibiting offering in-state tuition rates and state financial aid to immigrant students not legally residing in the country. (U.S. 2023). This makes college unaffordable for thousands of undocumented…

Background/Context: Access to education is seen as a critical aspect of personal success, with substantial implications for education systems and social well-being. In this context, the effectiveness of free college tuition is a hot topic in current higher education research (Bell, 2020), as there is no clarity on whether the benefits outweigh the…

The Bring Bobcats Back program was established at Texas State University in 2018 for students who had "stopped out" to return and finish their degrees. Bring Bobcats Back has expanded thanks to federal and state grant funding born out of the pandemic. Through the U.S. Department of Education's Stabilization Fund Program via the…

Focus groups were conducted to explore prospective students' perceptions of tuition fees, maintenance loans and how these impact their decision to engage with higher education. Views on rebranding of the term 'tuition fees' to 'student/graduate contributions/tax' and the introduction of differential fees for different courses were explored.…

This is a reflexive account of carrying out 'dirty research' on "cis" women's experiences of working as erotic dancers while at university in the UK. Focusing on the recruitment process, I discuss how universities avoided becoming 'subjects' of research by blocking the study and labelling it 'extremely sensitive' or 'inappropriate'. By…

Transportation costs (gas, car maintenance, public transportation, and parking) make up a large part (nearly 20 percent) of college students' living expenses. Additionally, many students face long commutes because they lack access to a reliable car and/or rely on inconvenient public transportation. Periodic car breakdowns can lead to missed…

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,…

As economic inequality in higher education continues to increase, many states and universities have started to introduce financial promise programs meant to eliminate college costs for eligible students. Further, many lawmakers and politicians have also brought debt-free college to the forefront of their campaigns, creating a discourse of the…

College affordability is a significant factor in student access, retention, and completion. Tuition and fee rates are a component of affordability, as is the availability of financial aid programs from federal, state, institutional and private sources, among other factors. Strategically designed approaches to college affordability can better…

The purpose of this study was to retroactively explore how Latinx undocumented students currently enrolled at a single University of California (UC) campus navigated policies concerning accessibility and affordability as they worked toward their goal of pursuing bachelor's degrees. Using a critical race theory (CRT) and Latino/a critical race…

All students should have the ability to thrive within collegiate environments. Despite widening access for postsecondary education participation, low-income students often do not experience the collegiate environment in the same ways as their well-resourced peers. Previous research highlights obstacles low-income students face; yet, these results…

Student affairs practitioners, faculty, and researchers rely heavily on surveys to assess elements of students' college experience such as student satisfaction and cocurricular participation. The ubiquitous student survey has serious drawbacks for informing institutional improvement, however, given typically low response rates and systematic…

The issue of student debt is now at the forefront of public discourse and political debate. There is no question that debt, not just student debt, impacts the economy and hinders the economic wellbeing of many Americans. At the same time, the factors that lead to that debt should not be ignored. Not all student debt is the same, and not all…

Minorities are underrepresented in the aviation industry. More than 90% of professional pilots identify as White males. While research has identified this phenomenon, little qualitative research exists to understand low retention's driving factors. This phenomenological study sought the experiences of minority graduates of collegiate aviation…

All Texans deserve access to affordable, high-quality learning opportunities that lead to credentials of value--postsecondary credentials that will unlock their potential, help them provide for their families, and pursue their dreams. Helping students understand the financial choices they will make before, during and after their postsecondary…