State financial aid programs across the country have varying levels of accessibility for students and have room for improvement, according to a recent report from The Education Trust.Dr. Brittany Williams
According to “Who Qualifies for State Financial Aid?”, understate investment in higher education over the past 20 years has led to significant increases in tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities, making it difficult for students seeking to attend college. It became a bigger obstacle. It is especially suitable for low-income students and students from underserved communities.
National financial assistance programs could help alleviate this burden, but such programs are currently lacking, according to the report. State financial aid programs have not only failed to keep pace with tuition increases, but they also lag behind the changing demographics and needs of today's students, which include returning adults, student parents, and working first-generation students.
“The way requirements have been in the past and over time does not account for the evolution of the student population in how students pursue higher education,” said Dr. Brittani Williams, report author and former financial aid counselor.
In a report released this April, Ed Trust used state funding data from the National Association of Student Grants and Assistance Programs (NASSGAP) to evaluate the accessibility and fairness of 26 financial aid programs in 10 states across the country, from California to New Jersey. York.
The evaluation was conducted using a 12-point scale that examined various characteristics of the 26 programs, including program type, required applications, income criteria, and amount of assistance.
California's state-funded programs exist at merit-based and need-based levels and are available to students without requiring standardized test scores, such as ACT or SAT scores. These scores can be difficult for students with limited access to test preparation. However, these assistance programs were found to have low-income requirements. This means that students from middle-class households are excluded.
In Louisiana, most aid programs appear to be merit-based. With one exception, most do not require the student to be low-income, but they are not available unless the student has standardized test scores and a certain grade point average (GPA).
“GPA requirements may create additional barriers for students from underrepresented backgrounds,” the report said. “Because they may face unequal educational opportunities or systemic disadvantages that impact their academic performance.”
Programs in Massachusetts do not require test scores or a specific GPA. However, like almost all programs in other states, both programs require students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible.
“The FAFSA is a complex and time-consuming application, especially for students who face language barriers, limited technology access, or other constraints that result in incomplete and delayed FAFSA processing,” the report said.
And unlike some states such as New York and California,, The Texas, Massachusetts application does not accept alternatives to the FAFSA. That means undocumented students in those states don't have access because they don't have Social Security numbers that fit the federal forms. Michigan and Tennessee are two states that have joined Massachusetts in this regard.
However, the report noted that Massachusetts has taken steps through legislation to provide state aid to undocumented students.
Despite this, many states are excluding undocumented and incarcerated students from aid benefits. These types of restrictions may not improve the lives and financial situations of these populations. For students who were previously incarcerated, these obstacles can lead to recidivism, according to the report.
Of the 10 states analyzed, California provided the most financial assistance, totaling more than $2 billion, followed by Texas, which provided more than $1 billion.
In contrast, Michigan provided minimal financial aid to students (about $118 million). According to the report, on a per capita basis, Louisiana ($350 million) and Washington ($516 million) provided the most subsidies.
Ed Trust researchers provided a series of recommendations to increase equity in the face of these outcomes, including proposals to increase compensation amounts, provide alternatives to the FAFSA, and expand access to aid for part-time students. These key recommendations inform how higher education reform and affordability should move forward, Williams said.
Dr. Wil Del Pilar, senior vice president of the Ed Trust, said states should prioritize providing need-based assistance over merit-based compensation.
“We see a state prioritizing advantages over needs,” Del Pilar said. “And overwhelmingly, all they are doing is providing money to students who would go to college without it. [them to] Students who wouldn’t go to college without that help.”
Countries should also do more to standardize the language of aid proposals to reduce confusion, Del Pilar added.
“If you get three offers of aid and they all speak different languages, it can be very confusing to know what the difference is between grants, loans, work-study or other types of aid that may have some requirements.” he said
The report comes as problems continue to arise with the recently overhauled FAFSA form. This can cause delays, impacting deadlines for both schools and prospective students.