National and State Impacts of FAFSA Simplification

Oct. 25, 2023
The changes mandated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification Act, passed in December 2020, represent a significant overhaul of the federal financial aid process. This report from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association uses national- and state-level data to explore and assess how FAFSA simplification will affect specific states, sectors,…

Student Loan Debt and Access to Homeownership for Borrowers of Color

Nov. 1, 2022
Research finds a weak causal relationship between student loan debt and homeownership. Still, less access to generational wealth among young Black adults is a root cause of higher student debt burden and a substantial barrier to accessing homeownership. The inability to repay debt, or to build wealth through homeownership, in turn, contributes to the persistence…
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Trapped by Default

July 27, 2022
Today, approximately 7.5 million Americans are in default on their federal student loans. Borrowers enter default when they miss 270 days’ worth of payments, and being behind on student loan bills comes with severe financial consequences. Borrowers in default can be charged high collection fees and have portions of their wages, tax refunds, and federal…

Pell Access and Completion Series

July 13, 2022
The Pell Grant is targeted to students with the greatest financial need, and many policymakers find the Pell Grant a useful policy lever for promoting access and success for students from lower- and moderate-income backgrounds. There are several examples where policymakers use Pell eligibility to allocate resources and hold colleges accountable for their outcomes; however,…

States Leading the Way in SNAP Eligibility and SNAP Outreach to Students

June 6, 2022
Across the country, food insecurity is harming the ability of college students to achieve their educational and professional goals. One of the most effective ways to ensure stable food access is by signing students up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Unfortunately, too few students with need actually enroll in SNAP.
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Overseeing the Overseers: Can Federal Oversight of Accreditation Improve Student Outcomes?

May 25, 2022
Since the 1960s, the accreditation process and accreditors have played an important gatekeeping function for institutions’ access to federal student financial aid. Recognizing this role, Congress and the Department of Education have introduced and modified federal requirements and oversight of accreditors to ensure that these gatekeepers are protecting students and public dollars. While these federal…
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Student Loan Repayment During the Pandemic Forbearance

March 22, 2022
Amid calls to extend the two-year pause on the repayment of federally held student loans, researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York predict in a report released this week that borrowers are likely to struggle financially once forbearance ends. The result, according to the report, will be a significant rise in delinquencies, both…
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Creditor Colleges

March 16, 2022
New research from NextGen Policy and the Student Borrower Protection Center suggests that colleges’ policies around unpaid student balances may be contributing to enrollment declines while also creating lasting financial challenges for students.
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Green Jobs Now: Arkansas

March 11, 2022
Green jobs are already in demand across the country, and Arkansas is no different. A new report from Emsi, Burning Glass, and WorkingNation examines and details the growing green workforce in Arkansas and the skills needed to land these jobs.

Student Debt and the Federal Budget

Nov. 10, 2021
A working paper from the Bipartisan Policy Center examines federal student loan debt and the complex challenges that helped spur the ongoing crisis. It concludes with a discussion of several current policy proposals aimed at curbing the unsustainable growth of student debt and improving borrower outcomes.

Unforced Errors

Oct. 7, 2021
The biggest problem contributing to the student loan dilemma also has the easiest fix: simply change the way in which loans are repaid, says this report from Third Way. “Free” college is a worthwhile discussion, as are the rising cost of college and a reconsideration of need-based grant aid. But, holding those costly issues aside,…

Dismantling Dire Disparities

Aug. 24, 2021
This report from the Institute for College Access & Success examines funding and resource patterns from the Great Recession to the peak of the economic recovery (2006 to 2018), and takes a deep dive into the public four-year colleges that disproportionately enroll and graduate students of color.

What Can We Learn About College and University Finances

July 27, 2021
Using data to understand revenue and expenditure patterns in higher education is crucial toward building knowledge of higher education policy. This brief from the Urban Institute highlights data from the Office of Federal Student Aid on institutions’ 90/10 ratios, financial responsibility composite scores, graduate and undergraduate loans, and campus-based awards.