Analyzes the influence of student aid on enrollment decisions of all accepted applicants at four institutions. Student aid was negatively associated with first-time enrollment, indicating that, in most cases, the amount of aid available was insufficient relative to the cost of college attendance. This suggests that institutions need to study their…

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…

Comparison of federal need-analysis formulas for student financial aid in 1992-93 and 1993-94 focused on elimination of home/farm equity from calculations, parent contributions, and Pell Grant awards. Results suggest higher unmet need and lower Pell Grant awards, and imply that the most needy students may lose gift assistance to more affluent…

A study analyzed characteristics of 392 University of Dayton (Ohio) students borrowing through the Perkins Loan Program to discover their relative impact on loan default behavior, and developed a model to help predict individual potential defaulters. Financial aid policy recommendations aimed at reducing default costs at the institution are…

Implications for future generations of college loan program changes are examined. The idea of who should pay for college is explored from the perspective of economic theory. It is concluded that new loan programs must be monitored carefully so they do not shift the burden of college payment from parents to students. (MSE)

A discussion of the high level of student borrowing to pay for higher education looks at the situation today, examines college cost and aid trends, explores implications for the future if students continue to increase their borrowing, and offers a proposal to create a new generation of loan forgiveness programs through a public/private…

A college financial aid administrator argues that good student loan programs are being discontinued because of politics and territoriality, and calls on the banking industry to enter into a more productive partnership with higher education, families, and associations to solve some of the problems of student loan financing and develop good public…

The debate over the future of the student loan program has often been so rancorous that it obscures rather than illuminates the issues. The college student loan program of the future will be characterized by the acute need for excellent customer service, dependence on advanced communications technology, and intense competition among service…

It is argued that rising costs and declining federal student loan programs highlight the key role of the in-school interest subsidy in educational finance. Six possible scenarios are outlined, each differentially balancing indirect/direct lending and government/private involvement. Professionals are urged to find a program that serves students, is…

A study at Arizona State University investigated the relationships between types and amounts of student financial aid, student demographic and academic characteristics, persistence, and degree completion among 472 master's program students over a 4-year period from fall 1985 through summer 1989. Variables found to affect patterns included economic…

The lower court findings and 1995 Supreme Court decision in Podberesky versus Kerwin, concerning the legality of race-exclusive scholarships, is reviewed and its implications on race-based financial aid awards are examined. Issues discussed include current Department of Education guidelines in this context, meeting institutional mandates to…

Analysis of data from National Education Longitudinal Study found that a third of parents of high school seniors had not begun preparing for college costs and a quarter had begun only recently. Most did not expect savings to cover costs and had investigated financial aid but relatively few had applied. Grants, scholarships, and fellowships were…

A study investigated the use of econometric analysis to understand the enrollment behavior of students accepted to a college, particularly those requesting financial aid. The experiences of a diverse group of four-year colleges and universities in using this modeling approach are discussed. Data requirements, underlying assumptions, some…

A study identified overall changes in college-going behavior before and after the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program, based on a comparison of the high school graduating classes of 1972 and 1982. Results suggest that federal efforts to increase access to higher education have been constrained by heavy reliance on test scores in college…

Substantial differences in tuition discounting across private colleges appear related to differences in admissions selectivity, nominal price, endowment per student, and regional location. Ironically, one reason many of these colleges can sustain such policies is that stringent selectivity and high price may lower the percentage of needy students.…