This research explores the competencies that financial aid officers need to be successful in their jobs. A survey of 30 competencies was distributed to 508 financial aid officers in the Western United States. Respondents were asked to rate 30 job competencies for their relative importance and frequency of use. Using exploratory factor analysis,…

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first and most important step for students to receive their portion of the billions of grant aid dollars disbursed in federal student financial aid; however, every year many low income and community college students fail to complete the FAFSA. Over the past twenty years,…

This research used a Web-based survey of students at a Midwest regional university to measure the extent of credit card use by first-year students and seniors. The results indicate that the variables influencing credit card use and the carrying of a balance from one month to the next include the number of cards held by the student, the student's…

The fourth Nellie Mae survey of student loan borrowers in repayment reveals that education debt burdens remain manageable for most borrowers. A clear majority of those in repayment report that the benefits of the educational opportunities made possible through borrowing are well worth any problems associated with paying off the loans. There are,…

A survey of 19 diverse two- and four-year colleges in Ohio investigated the availability and use of online applications for college admission, parent and student awareness of and planning for financial aid, the perceived value and cost-effectiveness of online aid applications, and public-policy implications relating to the use of technology for…

Examines the total direct and indirect effects of receiving financial aid on persistence to degree using a subsample of 1989 freshmen from the Beginning Postsecondary Student Survey. Analysis shows that although simply receiving financial aid is unrelated to persistence, the effects of financial aid on persistence appear to depend on type and…

A study of graduate and professional student within-year persistence, based on the 1993 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, compared three models of the impact of financial aid on persistence. It was found that financial aid significantly and positively influenced within-year persistence, with comprehensive aid packages having the greatest…

A study investigated the implementation costs of direct lending in 77 diverse colleges and universities, including both increases and decreases in institutional expenditures. Results indicate that start-up costs varied greatly, that the institution's loan volume was related to the cost and savings experienced, and that costs and savings were…

A survey of parents of college-bound high school students (1996 and 1997-99) considered separately) found widespread belief that college education is a worthwhile investment for economic and personal reasons, despite high cost. Most could provide cost figures for public colleges. Expected sources for funding college varied. Many save little for…

A study is reported that sought to determine the extent of utilization of federal student aid programs at proprietary schools, to assess the role of federal support for needy students enrolled at proprietary schools, and to evaluate the relationship of financial aid to the recruitment and training of students. (JMD)

In order to assess the adequacy of the standardized budgets used by the Financial Aid Office at Iowa State University, they were compared with the self-reported budgets of a selected group of student aid recipients. Instructional and noninstructional expenses, state residency, marital status, and dependency status were considered. (JMD)

Institutions request National Direct Student Loan, College Work-Study, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program funding by submitting to the Office of Education the "Tripartite Application." This paper reviews the institutional application process and evaluates the format used by institutions for requesting aid funds. (Author/LBH)

The 56 administrators whose programs or agencies were members of the National Association of State Scholarship and Grant Programs were surveyed, with a 66 percent response rate. Their use of research in decision-making was assessed and was most often used to support budgetary requests to the legislatures. (LBH)

Little research has been done in relationship to non-faculty and non-student populations in higher educational settings. An investigation of the attitudes and perceived problems of financial aid directors in universities is described. A questionnaire sent to U.S. financial aid directors is discussed. (MLW)

A study to obtain insights about Arizona proprietary school students, how they obtain their funds, and how they spend those funds while they pursue their education is discussed. Comparisons with students of the other sectors of the state's postsecondary community are provided. (MLW)