Investigates the relationship between family structure and 4-year college enrollment and completion. Uses 1980 High School and Beyond Sophomore cohort and its subsequent followup surveys. Finds that family-income differences can explain much of the differences in college attendance and completion rates between students from disrupted families and…

Attaining a post-secondary credential has become increasingly important for securing opportunities to get high-return jobs in the United States in the 21st century. Students from low-income families are underrepresented at every milestone in the educational pipeline, limiting their ability to attain post-secondary credentials and break the…

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…

This report presents a localized perspective on Tennessee higher education, including: (1) county demographic and economic data; (2) information on public and private colleges and universities located in the county; (3) number of county residents enrolled in Tennessee public institutions; and (4) number of county residents participating in the…

In the years since student loans first became available in 1958, borrowing has become a common way for students to pay for education after high school. As student borrowing has risen over time, some have raised concerns about the debt burden facing some borrowers once they complete their post-secondary education. In an effort to learn more about…

The Parents' Confidential Statement (PCS) of the College Scholarship Service is designed to provide the aid administrator with the information necessary to make judgments on who receives aid. This booklet is designed to help aid administrators who wish to verify the information parents provide in support of the financial aid applications for their…

This article examines grants (Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, state grants) and work-study and loan programs. Discusses aid available to low-income and middle-income families, average amount of various types of awards, and what percentage of students is receiving financial aid. (CT)

Two arguments against the Hansen-Weisbrod study (which stated that subsidies in California public higher education discriminate against students from lower income families) are presented: (1) comparison should be based on the age of the family head (35-60 years), and (2) student financial aid should be added to tuition subsidies. (Author/EC)

The U.S. Congress has mandated that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) produce an annual report to help inform policymakers about the progress of education in the United States. Using data from across the center and from other sources of education data, "The Condition of Education 2015" presents 42 key indicators on…

Using Pell grant awards as a proxy for the enrollment of low-income students is common. The most recent National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) data shows that only 16.9% of community college students enrolled in credit courses receive these grants. This paper examines 7 different hypotheses that might explain this low rate. It finds…

The subsidy available to undergraduate students is examined, with attention to the total amount of money available from all sources to students attending college (but excluding the individual and family contribution). The analysis identifies what resources are available directly to students and how many dollars are available as a subsidy through…

Various efforts of the University of California at San Diego to systematize and develop useful evaluation formulas for verifying income through use of Federal Income Tax Returns are reviewed. It is recommended that 100 percent collection and analysis of tax returns by the national scholarship services would maximize economy and confidentiality.…

A Michigan Competitive Scholarship and Tuition Grant Program survey of 1973-74 participants who also reported receiving Social Security Educational Benefits (SSEB) shows that reported educational utilization of SSEB is significantly higher than that expected by program assessment procedures. Implications for needs analysis theory and practice are…

Families need assistance in planning for the costs of higher education. Some suggestions are offered, including question the premise that parents will finance one year's education out of one year's income; create a national college savings plan, etc. (MLW)

A national survey of Hispanic financial aid recipients is reported, including student self-reports of income (theirs or their parents') and verified income figures. Findings indicate that students do not know very well how much they or their families earn, and that over half the students overestimated actual income. (Author/MLW)