An analysis of increases in federal regulation of student financial aid since 1959 looks at changes in both volume and substance of the regulations, and the costs of implementing them. Federal initiatives to form partnerships with institutions in managing student aid are noted, including quality assurance efforts and innovative experiments in…

Department of Education regulations and initiatives designed to address problems of fraud, abuse, and loan default in federal student aid programs are examined. The scope and intrusiveness of some recent regulations are criticized, and unintended effects are noted, including increased administrative burdens on all institutions. (Author/MSE)