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The article reports on the College Cost Transparency Initiative which aims to increase transparency in the student financial aid letters of colleges in the U.S. Topics discussed include the importance of these financial aid packages to students, the estimated number of colleges that expressed commitment to the initiative, and the compliance of concerned colleges to standards in preparing financial aid letters.

The author discusses college costs and pricing in the U.S. Topics explored include the way college websites advertise the affordability of their tuition fees in addition to the availability of financial aid to students, the calculation of college pricing under the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act, and the efforts made by the administration of former U.S. President Barack Obama to improve the delivery of pricing information by colleges.

The article focuses on the myriad of problems associated with the U.S. financial-aid system for higher education. The author explores the ways in which the financial-aid system has been exploited since its inception in 1972 by state governments, for-profit higher education corporations, and colleges themselves. He discusses the reforms proposed by U.S. president Barack Obama which would allow for school funding based on student performance, examines how student loans and federal program Pell Grants have left students in debt, and argues that educator and academic administrator Clark Kerr was correct in assuming government involvement in higher education would cause too many problems.

The article presents a profile of several protesters in New York City who are focusing their demonstrations on the issue of college affordability and college student debt. According to the article, the demonstrations are part of the larger Occupy Wall Street movement, which focuses on economic inequalities in the U.S. Individuals profiled within the article include graduate student Pamela Brown, who signed a pledge promising to fail to repay her student loan debt, college senior Dan Plaat, who discusses how college costs limit the ability of students to choose appropriate schools, and adjunct instructor Thomas Gokey, who comments on his struggles to pay off student loans.

The article focuses on the problems faced by working-class students in pursuing their studies in the U.S. Higher education still holds out the promise of serving as a portal to the middle class for students from low-income and working-class families. The proportion of bachelor's degrees going to working-class students has declined over the past 25 years, from about 15 percent of all BA degrees earned in 1980 to about 11 percent in 2004. The share of the degrees going to students from more affluent families has risen to 79 percent from 72 percent over that period. Working-class students are not well served. Students are essentially penalized for working long hours to pay their way through college. The price increases are taking a toll on students, who are taking on more debt than in the past. Today more than 80 percent of students have to borrow to cover their college costs. The average student-loan debt of graduating seniors has just about doubled over the last few years, from $11,343 in 1996 to $21,981. University officials believe that the higher prices may be scaring off some students from low-income and lower-middle-class families. INSET: Fixing the Student Aid Formula.

The article reports on the legislative bills proposed in several states of the U.S. designed to help meet college costs. In Alabama, a bill that would create a tuition prepayment plan has been passed by a committee but was rejected before it could be debated on the floor of the Congress. A California bill that would establish a savings bond plan is awaiting the governor's approval.

The article discusses the economic conditions of Atlanta, Georgia and examines how the economic recession is having an impact on area colleges including Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia State University, and Agnes Scott College. Particular focus is paid to the decrease in funding for Georgia's HOPE scholarship program for state colleges and various instances where students have taken jobs or dropped out due to problems associated with college costs. Comments from individuals are presented including Georgia Perimeter student Ariel Stitt on her use of public transportation, Georgia State provost Timothy M. Renick on increasing enrollment at the school, and Agnes Scott president Elizabeth Kiss on a decision to lay off staff members and offer early retirement to faculty.

The article presents a discussion of several issues faced by universities in the Pacific West region of the U.S., focusing on ways in which decreased federal funding will impact their budgets and strategic plans. Efforts by colleges in the region to increase revenue by raising tuition are highlighted along with alterations to the student financial aid models used at the region's state-funded schools. Several statistics are provided regarding college student demographics, college costs at public and private universities, and the salaries of college teachers in states including Alaska, Oregon, and California.

The article presents a profile of the financial aid office at Occidental College and examines ways in which the financial aid appeals committee processes requests for more institutional aid for enrolled students. It describes the procedure the committee, which includes admissions and financial aid officers Maureen McRae, Sally Stone Richmond, and Brett Schraeder, uses to evaluate individual appeals and overviews how the aid program at Occidental differs from that offered by U.S. federal student aid programs. It highlights ways in which tax return information, family income, and outstanding debts are incorporated in the committee's evaluation process and explores how merit aid, or scholarships, can also influence the decisions of the committee.

The article discusses a requirement proposed by the U.S. federal government that universities and colleges create net-price calculators for their websites that will allow prospective students and their families to calculate the actual cost of a college degree. The process of creating such calculators and precisely what information they should give are considered. The U.S. government's definition for net-price is included as is a description of how difficult it would be to create a calculator that can figure out the expected family contribution of families. The financial aid system in use at the University of Pennsylvania is described. Other topics include how popular the calculators will be with families of college-bound students and the calculator used by the University of Texas System.

The article discusses an effort by the California State University system to identify what it calls super seniors, those who have enough credits to graduate but stay in college amassing more credits, and to encourage them to graduate using the advising system. The effort comes in the face of budget problems which bring pressure on enrollment. Charles B. Reed, the university's chancellor, also notes that pushing super seniors to graduate increases the graduation rate, an important statistic for schools. Reasons that students stay in college are examined. A chart showing how various states handle the issue is presented, including reductions in student aid and surcharges on tuition.

The article discusses price increases in private colleges, noting that 58 colleges reached a yearly price of $50,000 or more for tuition, fees, room and board. It notes that many colleges offer generous aid packages to a large percentage of students. Private colleges have worked hard to keep increases low and to keep the average loan total with which students graduate constant. Controversy exists about whether the total price for private colleges is headed towards an unsustainable figure. Some experts see that middle class families will be unable to afford the prices and will look to other options. Others see no drop in applications and no trouble filling classes, implying that families see value in a private college education.

The article explores the issue of rising tuition costs in colleges and universities in the United States. Questions are raised regarding the source of the inflation, citing several complex factors including the management of operating expenses of the school and the level of cost-burden put onto the student rather than on subsidies and grants. Additional discussion is given concerning colleges' broader financial management philosophies on their productivity and efficiency, the possible impact of the credit markets, and potential for government intervention.

Several elite institutions have managed to keep costs for students from the poorest families at less than a 10th of what students from wealthier families pay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even with financial aid from the college and the government, parents of all income levels rely on Parent PLUS Loans to close the gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on colleges' criticism of financial consultants who are recommending schemes that help families win student aid unfairly in the United States. Such schemes have become more prevalent due to the scarcity of student-aid dollars, coupled with the increasing costs of attending college, which caused alarm among parents. Most of the schemes can be traced to consultants who promise to get parents the largest possible aid packages.

The article presents a speech by William Bennett, the U.S. Secretary of Education, on federal student aid policies and rising college costs. He discusses the rise in college costs, which would make college education out of reach of the average American. He talks about the financial conditions of universities and colleges. According to Bennett, it's a matter of great concern to get student financial aid.

Candidates are staking out their positions, and new plans are emerging. But the proposals vary widely, creating confusion about whom they really help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The education secretary blamed the government's shift to direct loans and cited with approval the "Bennett hypothesis," in which federal aid purportedly leads colleges to raise their prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large increases in out-of-state tuition and fees over the past decade did not seem to have a negative impact on the enrollment of nonstate residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new reports ignore the many ways that state plans make a college education more affordable -- and more realistic -- for financially needy families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All along they wanted the same thing: to leave home, decorate a dorm-room wall, and shape a new life. Find out how two Texas students weathered an uncertain summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the issue of college affordability in the United States as of 2015. Topics addressed include introductory comments noting the growing universal acknowledgement of the problem of rising college costs but also the different implications of proposed solutions depending on one's socioeconomic background, examples of how different potential students evaluate costs, and efforts by different organizations to promote better decision-making benchmarks for applicants.

The article discusses a project at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York that helps local high school students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Fafsa) forms. Topics discussed include the role played by program founder Nathan J. Daun-Barnett, the involvement of the U.S. Department of Education in making sure more U.S. students attend college, and the Say Yes to Education group, which raises money to cover college costs for Buffalo high school graduates.

The article discusses the 2012 re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama, focusing on his policies related to higher education. The article overviews policy changes Obama instituted within his first term, including reforms to federal student aid programs and student loan repayment plans, and comments on how he may address issues such as regulation of for-profit colleges, college tuition costs, and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

The article presents a profile of St. Mary's College of Maryland and examines the efforts of university administrators to implement policies to change the school's financial aid system to reduce tuition for students at the public honors college. Particular attention is paid to the work of president Joseph R. Urgo in shifting the focus of the university funded financial aid system from merit to need-based aid and the role played by dean of admissions and financial aid Paula F. Goldsmith in the college's movement towards providing better affordability. Other topics include potential funding for student aid at St. Mary's by the state of Maryland and tuition data released by the U.S. Department of Education in regards to the cost of attending St. Mary's in comparison to similar colleges.

The article discusses a list issued by the U.S. Department of Education which provides information on educational costs at various U.S. universities and colleges. The author explains that the list is to be used by college students, referred to here as consumers, in order to make informed decisions and avoid large amounts of debt. The lists' lack of information on school's student aid programs is criticized. Federal aid to institutions which have enacted large increases to tuition and fees is also evaluated.

The article presents a description of ways in which Seattle Pacific University has altered the format of the financial-aid letters it sends to incoming freshmen students in an effort to better inform them of their financial obligations related to earning their college degree. It discusses the U.S. Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, presents comments from education advocate Mark Kantrowitz regarding award letter information, and provides an explanation of the award letter reform process by Seattle Pacific student financial services director Jordan Grant. It also provides an example of the reformed award letter from Seattle Pacific.

The article discusses college tuition discount rates and examines how three private universities in the U.S. have increased admissions during an economic recession. Kentucky's Centre College has used academic guarantees to attract students and increased their selectivity when offering student aid. Campus planning and personal contact have increased applications and admissions to California Lutheran University. Changes to the financial-aid program at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland have helped increase admissions according to the college's enrollment management vice president Heidi Roller.

The article reports that New York University called students that were admitted in the 2009 academic school year to inform them about the high cost of attending the university. The measures were taken in order to ensure that students knew that New York University is not the right financial fit for every student that gets in. New York University is one of the most expensive colleges in the country and provides less institutional aid than many other schools. This is attributed to a small endowment.

The article discusses the Pell Grant program, which provides educational grants to low-income college-bound students in the U.S. and to which President Barack Obama has made some recommendations for changes. Obama has proposed changing the dollar amount of grants so that they will keep pace with changes in inflation, but some feel that this would do little to maintain the grant's purchasing power. Increases in tuition and college costs have hurt the effectiveness of Pell grants. Methods of increasing the purchasing power of Pell grants are considered in terms of the costs to the government to increase the amount given. Neal McCluskey of the Center for Educational Freedom is critical of the proposals and feels tuition will only increase as a result.

The article discusses increased efforts by universities to offer financial assistance to students. The author notes how the economic recession has increased financial difficulties for colleges students, leading colleges to develop or expand financial aid services for students. Northern Illinois University has created a program to ease tuition costs not covered by government grants. Agnes Scott College will offer additional grants and scholarships to students. The University of Pennsylvania has sent e-mails to promote its financial aid programs to students. The author notes that automobile companies have discontinued tuition reimbursement programs for colleges in Michigan and Ohio, leading universities to offer students financial grace periods and tuition waivers.

The article looks at members of U.S. National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (Nasfaa). New York's attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo, has led investigations examining whether some Nasfaa members had accepted payments from student loan lenders, which has led to the removal of several financial-aid administrators. According to the article, the focus of the Nasfaa's annual conference was how the association could improve its image. The article discusses Cuomo's proposed ethical guidelines for Nasfaa, financial assistance for low-income college students, and U.S. education policy.

The article looks at how U.S. President George W. Bush revealed that he would pay for a much-heralded increase in the maximum Pell Grant by cutting lender subsidies and eliminating the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program. Taken together, the maximum grants would cover all tuition and fees and up to $4,000 in living expenses for community-college students, and tuition and fees for sophomores at an average four-year public institution, in 2008. According to the article, the increases would come at a cost to some low-income students and to lenders in the federal government's guaranteed-loan program.

The authors discusses their belief that the United States government needs a comprehensive overhaul of its financial aid system. The authors assert that the U.S. government needs to create a student aid program that reflects modern standards and adequately supports independent, low-income, and first-generation students. The authors present several reasons why the financial aid system being used puts independent students at a disadvantage from dependent students, and why the government should restore financial self-sufficiency standards, which would be used to determine independent student status. The authors also make the case for why student loans should be increased for low income students.

The article reports on cost as the key obstacle in college access. College costs and financial aid policies keep many students from making transition from high school to college. No doubt low-income students are less prepared academically than higher-income students: They are more likely to come from educationally disadvantaged homes, to attend lousy schools, and to have SAT scores that lag 200 points behind those of higher-income students. A research clearly shows that low income students are much less likely to attend college than high income students. These facts raise serious questions about the role of financial need.

Discusses the June 1996 proposal of President Bill Clinton that would allow parents to choose between a $10,000 tax deduction and a $1,500 tax credit to help them pay for their child's college tuition. The complaints and worries of college leaders; The letter of six major higher-education groups to Education Secretary Richard W. Riley about the fact that the proposal did not include additional assistance to low-income students.

The article reports on the growth of financial aid to college students in the United States in the academic year 1988-89. The financial aid to college students was 8.3 percent higher for the academic year than in academic year 1987-88. The article reports on the distribution of about $26.7 billion to students, with the federal government supplying 75 percent of the funds.

The article cites a study conducted by the College Board in the U.S. which revealed that financial aid to college students in the country increased to $24.5-billion last year. According to the study, the increase was largely due a rise in student loans. The study also revealed that despite a 42% increase in financial aid over the last eight years, it was become increasingly difficult for average families to provide college education to their children since the rate of increase in student aid and personal income was not commensurate with the increase in college costs.

The article reports on the increased attention given to the creation of state programs to help parents finance their children's university education in the United States. Several states have adopted guaranteed-tuition programs while some have implemented legislation to set up some form of savings plan.

The article highlights the findings of a study by the College Board on trends in student aid in the United States. It reports that the financial aid to college students rose to $20.5 billion in 1986-1987, but the increase failed to keep pace with the rising college costs. College students borrowed $10.1 billion in 1986, received $9.7 billion in grants, and earned $662 million through federally subsidized employment.

The article reports on the growing share of Pell Grant money of proprietary schools in the United States. campus officials warn that the increasing share will mean less money available for college students. There are more proprietary schools eligible for student financial assistance than are all other types of postsecondary institutions combined.

The article reports on a study conducted by the American Council on Education which found that community college students in the United States face costs as high as students at four-year institutions but they receive less federal aid. The study blamed the discrepancy on the way aid is calculated for students and distributed to colleges.

The article reports on the need for Indian Universities to charge full fees for higher education and ensure continued access by offering scholarships to indigent students. The recommendation, which was prepared by the Ministry of Education, was one of many affecting the country's university system wherein most educators recognized as having too many low-quality programs and not sufficient relevance to India's needs for well-trained graduates.

The article reports on the delays in processing student's Pell Grants due to stricter government guidelines and a new payment schedule. More than 500 students at the University of Michigan had not been provided with the Pell Grants by the time classes started drawing students to apply low-interest loans. Aid officers are blaming the Education Department for setting new guidelines few days before classes which caused the commotion.

Presents the results of a study of trends in student aid in the U.S. in 20 years released by the College Board. Range of increases in college costs at community colleges and private universities between 1980 to 1981 and 1982 to 1983; Estimated total amount of aid that will be available to students from college, state and federal programs in 1983 to 1984 academic year; Assessment of the average grant and loan received by students.

Focuses on the findings of a study of needy proprietary-school students in the U.S. who received aid in 1981-1982 conducted by Wellford W. Wilms, associate professor of education at the University of California in Los Angeles, for the National Commission on Student Financial Assistance. Percentage of the students' cost that were covered by grants from the federal government and other sources; Concerns expressed by Wilms on the reliance of students on loans; Implications of the reluctance of banks to lend to students who borrow for short-term courses.

This article reports that U.S. House legislators are debating over an omnibus legislative bill that would reform federal student aid policies for college students. Student-aid programs set to expire in June 1975 are granted an automatic one-year extension while Congress mulls changes, such as an emphasis on loans or outright grants.