Paying for College
Education news, analysis, and opinion about how students and families finance college tuition, including through student loans, Pell Grants and other financial aid
College & Workforce Readiness
'Gainful Employment' Rules Leave Many Disappointed
Career-college programs can lose access to federal student aid if too many of their students fail to find "gainful employment."
College & Workforce Readiness
Democratic Senators Rail About Debt Load of For-Profit Students
The Education Department's new "gainful employment" rule is "modest" and may need to followed up by more aggressive legislation, says U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
College & Workforce Readiness
Report Shows Low-Income Students Pay High Share of College
A new report released today by the Education Trust says that financial-aid policies too often benefit affluent students who would go to college anyway, rather than helping those with the greatest financial need. And when it comes to the bottom line of paying for college (after grants and aid), low-income students pay a higher proportion of their family income to attend than other students.
College & Workforce Readiness
New Pew Research Surveys Question Value of College
Two new national surveys by the Pew Research Center reflect discontent among families and administrators about the value and quality of a college education.
College & Workforce Readiness
Study Chronicles Financial Benefits of Bachelor's Degree
For all the money, time, and effort it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, people often wonder: Is the investment worth it?
College & Workforce Readiness
Early Lessons in Saving Improve Odds for College Success
I'm a big believer in teaching kids about money. Giving an allowance to pay for gadgets, buy gifts, donate to charity, and establish good savings habits makes sense.
College & Workforce Readiness
Experts Call for Changes to Pell Grants
Although the maximum Pell Grant of $5,550 survived the recent budget deal in Congress, year-round Pell Grants were scrapped, and now it looks like the battle in next year's budget will not be over whether—but how—to cut the federal aid program for low-income college students.
College & Workforce Readiness
Latest Deal Protects Maximum Pell, Ends Year-Round Grants
The federal spending compromise cuts into the Pell Grant program, eliminating the option of year-round grants, but preserves the maximum single-grant amount.
College & Workforce Readiness
Enrollment Jumps Linked to Growth of Pell Grants
More Pell Grant money available to students has translated into higher enrollment at community colleges, a new study shows.
College & Workforce Readiness
Advocates of Pell React to Uncertainty and Talk of More Cuts
There is a lot of angst among potential Pell Grant recipients and colleges as the fate of the federal student aid program hangs in the air..
College & Workforce Readiness
Debate Heats Up Over Pell Grant Funding
For years, the Pell Grant program has received broad bipartisan support. But now, tremendous growth in the federal student-aid program at a time when politicians are looking for ways to trim the budget is leading to ramped up rhetoric.
College & Workforce Readiness
Dropout Awareness Campaign Aims to Engage Students
A new campaign to keep students in schools leverages this statistic: Every 26 seconds, a student drops out of high school in the United States.
College & Workforce Readiness
Kanter Maintains Support for Pell Grants in House Hearing
Undersecretary of Education Margaret Kanter defended the 2012 education budget request to continue the maximum Pell Grant award of $5,500 in testimony yesterday before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Service and Education.
College & Workforce Readiness
College Process Not So Complex, New Poll Reveals
Contrary to the hype about the college-application process, the College Board finds most parents and students don't think the process is overly complex.