The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA; P.L. 89-329, as amended), authorizes a broad array of federal student aid programs that assist students and their families with financing the cost of a postsecondary education, as well as programs that provide federal support to postsecondary institutions of higher education (IHEs). Programs authorized by the…

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), previously named the Veterans Administration, has been providing veterans educational assistance (GI Bill®) benefits since 1944. The benefits have been intended, at various times, to compensate for compulsory service, encourage voluntary service, prevent unemployment, provide equitable benefits to all…

A quality education is the primary instrument of social and economic mobility in the United States. As open-access institutions, community colleges are the gateway to postsecondary education for millions of Americans. Many of these students would be unable to afford college without federal resources, such as student financial aid and tax credits.…

Aware that rising costs could force some community colleges to compromise their long-standing open-door policies, administrators have put in place programs and incentives to offset the higher price of the average community college education. This article features ideas and programs to help struggling community colleges cope with rising costs such…

The cost of attending college has risen sharply over the last 40 years. Although more credit and grant aid have been made available to students, there are still major gaps between aid and the cost of attendance for many students in the United States, all of whom are left to figure out whether they can afford the remaining costs associated with…

Approximately 23 million students enrolled in undergraduate postsecondary education in the United States during the 2011-12 academic year (Simone et al. 2013). The Web Tables in this report provide a comprehensive source (2011-12 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study [NPSAS:12]) of information on the financial aid that was awarded to these…

This report, which is the collaborative effort of the 23-member institutions of the consortium, proposes a financial aid structure that would provide access and a degree of choice in postsecondary education. Its overriding concern is with the structure of financial aid. The consortium recommends redirecting benefits under existing laws so that…

Financial aid is available to help students meet postsecondary education costs. It comes in a variety of forms. It may take the form of a grant, a loan, or a job. Colleges very commonly employ a combination of these forms, called "packages," tailored to fit each student's resources and requirements. This booklet can help you learn whether you are…

Information and guidelines for implementing the various amendments to the federal student financial aid programs are provided. The provisions are effective October 1, 1980 through 1985, except for the Guaranteed Student Loan Program amendments, effective January 1, 1980. General provisions are outlined, concerning the new administrative cost…