Filter & Sort
States Warm to FAFSA Requirements
At least six states are considering legislation that would require high school seniors to fill out the federal financial aid form or sign a waiver opting out. Lawmakers say the policies would boost college enrollments and affordability.
Using Colleges’ Outcomes to Gauge Risk for Students
A framework developed to identify the riskiest colleges for veterans could be a model for state regulators and accreditors to spot colleges that could close or harm students.
Community College’s Controversial Partnership Draws Federal Scrutiny
U.S. Department of Education has started a program review to study financial aid practices at Ohio’s Eastern Gateway Community College.
Class Action Suit Filed Against Top Private Colleges
Five students say leading colleges and universities are acting as an illegal “cartel” in violation of antitrust law. One of the students’ lawyers is a former prosecutor in the Varsity Blues case.
State Financial Aid Totals Climb
Two-thirds of all undergraduate, need-based grant aid awarded during the 2019–20 academic year was concentrated in eight states. California handed out $2.4 billion, the most of any state.
Perceptions of Affordability
High school juniors who believe they can’t afford higher education are about 20 percentage points less likely to attend college within the first three years after high school than peers who don’t think affordability is a barrier.
The Dark Side of Lottery-Funded Scholarships
More and more states are creating lottery-funded scholarship programs, but they disproportionately hurt the people they’re often intended to help.
Relieving the Verification Burden
FAFSA verification can be a burden for students and institutions alike. College access advisers and financial aid administrators say data sharing and changing how the Education Department selects students for verification could provide relief.