Current financial assistance files at three public colleges/universities were examined to determine whether there is discrimination of women in the award of financial aid. Attention was directed to several specific assistance programs: Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Awards, National Direct Student loans, Guaranteed Student Loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant awards, work-study loans, and state aid awards. The three institutions differed in several respects: one was a major graduate and research institution in the West with a diverse student body, one was a large community college system in the East with a large ethnic minority population, and the other was a smaller commuter campus. Study variables included sex, marital status, age, dependent/independent status, ethnic status, number of dependents, income, and parental financial contribution. Findings indicate that there is a fairly equal distribution of aid by type and amount between males and females. It is suggested that a slight favoring of females in average awards may be due to their being the majority of single heads of households and are therefore more needy. A brief literature review, references, and small-print statistical tables of the findings are included. (SW)