This First Look publication provides price estimates for attending postsecondary education institutions using data from the 2011-12 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:12), the most comprehensive, nationally representative survey of student financing of postsecondary education in the United States. The survey includes about 95,000…

This Statistics in Brief illustrates the kinds of questions that national data can answer about the amounts U.S. undergraduates pay annually, on average, for postsecondary education, with and without financial aid. This brief draws upon the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), a nationally representative survey of all postsecondary…

Due to the increasing complexity in the financial aid process and the movement of available financial aid up the economic scale, poor people and minorities have less access to college, including engineering programs. Some impediments are lack of access to knowledge about college, increasing complexity and up-front costs in the application process…

Short-term study abroad courses often claim to provide a unique experience for students, but it is not clear how the value translates into a dollar amount. The paper uses the contingent valuation method to assess participating students' pre- and post-trip perceived dollar value of their study abroad courses at an AACSB accredited business school.…

Spring is a time for gardening, blossoms, and baseball. At American college and universities, it is also a time for commencement ceremonies. Students are recognized for their scholastic achievements as faculty and staff close out another academic school year. Family and friends applaud the graduates and celebrate their success. Students show their…

Textbooks are a crushingly substantial portion of students' costs every semester, and they're getting more expensive every year. With the cost of some individual textbooks surpassing a monthly cable television bill, students are moving to relieve that economic pressure by renting textbooks instead of buying them new or used. The idea of renting…

This document explores the feasibility of loans to support English adults engaging in lifelong learning. The following topics are considered: (1) the policy context (loans in higher education, individual learning accounts, and education maintenance allowances); (2) the need for financial support; (3) attitudes toward loans; (3) financial advice,…

In the fall of 2006, students could purchase an entry-level notebook computer with a 15-inch LCD for $500. This price crossed an important threshold, moving notebooks into the range of consumer electronics--the category of phenomena that fuels mass consumer trends such as cell phones, digital cameras, and iPods. Most colleges and universities…

This guide suggests ways that states may expend their federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and State Maintenance-of-Effort (MOE) funds. The guide is organized into these seven sections: (1) "Introduction" provides background information, explaining the progress that has been made on welfare reform, what the funding situation is,…

This resource paper provides an overview of student financial aid and discusses the roles and responsibilities of those who play a significant part in the process of providing aid to students with disabilities. The paper also addresses the financial aid application procedure and suggests timelines and resources for those individuals who are…

Using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, this paper examines the inflation-adjusted cost per student between 1989 and 1998 for a sample of four-year public colleges and universities. On average, per-student expenditures grew faster than inflation over the period; but expenditures on public service, academic support,…

This report presents revenue and expenditure data for U.S. higher education institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for fiscal year l996 (FY 1996). Higher education institutions are defined as postsecondary institutions, granting associate or higher degrees, eligible for Title IV federal financial aid programs. Data is based on…

California charges its own residents less to attend its public colleges and universities than it charges nonresidents. All three of California's public postsecondary education segments charge resident students a systemwide enrollment fee. In addition, the California State University and the University of California also charge students mandatory,…

This resource guide provides an overview of student financial aid for students with disabilities. It also discusses the roles and responsibilities of those who play a significant part in the process of providing aid to students with disabilities. It addresses the financial aid application procedure, explains key terminology, and suggests timelines…

With data retrieved from the Common Core of Data collection of surveys, this report presents revenues and expenditures for public elementary and secondary education in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories for school year 2000-01. Two pie charts display revenues by source and current expenditures by function. Seven tables…