Starting From Scratch: A New Approach to Higher Ed Finance

In 2009, at the beginning of what would turn out to be a short-lived undergraduate career, I arrived at one of America’s most selective universities with an idealistic vision of what college could be. But I was dismayed to find that in class after class, theory trumped practice, and lectures superseded experiences. Frustrated, I returned…

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The Biggest Barrier to Making Financial Aid Simpler? The IRS.

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It seems the time is right for bold solutions on student debt – presidential candidates are proposing to forgive some or all of America’s education loans, states are attempting to regulate loan servicers, and even Secretary DeVos has called the current situation a crisis. But there are many steps on the path to big change,…

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Partner with States to Close Equity Gaps

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Over the past generation, there has been a sea of change in how we pay for college. Over the years, states have cut funding for colleges and universities while enrollment grew. The trend was turbocharged by the Great Recession, driving up tuition and student debt.  State funding is not only declining but also distributed inequitably.…

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What Confuses Students & Parents About Award Letters Will Surprise You—And That’s the Problem.

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Last week, CampusLogic released “Clear Disparity: New Data Adds Consumer Voices to Award Letter Confusion Debate,” a research report around student and parent confusion with financial aid award notifications. This research provides the first large-scale survey data documenting what, precisely, students and parents find unclear about a form that is used by millions of families…

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A Q&A with Julie Peller, Executive Director for Higher Learning Advocates

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Insights & Outlooks: Last month marked the 11th anniversary of the last reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). For HEA to better support today’s students, what are you hoping to see updated in the next reauthorization of HEA? Today’s students are now more diverse in age, race, and income level than any previous generation.…

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The Other Costs of College: Four Ways to Support Today’s Students Beyond Tuition

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The idea of free college is currently dominating headlines and the 2020 Democratic primary race. And for good reason: Americans now collectively owe $1.6 trillion in student debt. But supporting today’s students requires more than plans for offering free tuition or debt relief.  More students than ever before are now going to college. They are…

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Understanding Student Financial Success Through Data

portrait of Elaina Mule Mug

Elaina Mulé was fortunate to have a rewarding undergraduate and graduate experience due to impactful mentors, work and research opportunities, igniting her own personal passion for higher education. Today, working on the Community Development team at Charles Schwab Bank in Las Vegas, Elaina is helping to guide efforts to give back to the community by…

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Filing the FAFSA Matters: When Students File May Matter More

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Several weeks ago CampusLogic released a data snapshot on the patterns in FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) filings during the 2018-19 aid year. The piece, Timing Is Everything: FAFSA Filing Trends, offers a never-before-seen look at the data from a form that more than 18 million individuals looking for financial assistance to make…

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Affordable Higher Education is Essential to Preserving the Black Middle Class

Higher education has long been touted as a gateway to the middle class. This is especially critical for black Americans, as blacks still face economic adversity in not only achieving middle-income status, but also maintaining this status for future generations. In 2017, about 40 percent of black households qualify as middle class, with household incomes…

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