Cost Perceptions and College-Going for Low-Income Students. Research to Practice Brief

Passage of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) represented a landmark effort by the federal government to minimize the cost of college as a barrier to postsecondary access for low-income students and their families. Since then, a myriad of financial aid programs have been designed to equalize educational opportunity. Most recently, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act highlighted this long-term commitment of the nation's leaders. The legislation strengthens the Pell Grant program, enhances student loan repayment options, and invests in community colleges and minority-serving institutions. This "Research to Practice brief" is the first in a series from the Pathways to College Network and National College Access Network seeking to bridge the gap between scholarly research and effective practice. This brief highlights research on the role of "cost perceptions" on low-income students' college-going and features tangible advice from ACCESS College Foundation experts. [The research synthesis for this brief was written by Shannon Calderone, doctoral candidate, University of California, Los Angeles. The practitioner interview was conducted by Jennifer Johnson, a doctorate student at the University of Maryland, College Park. Additional contributions were provided by Kladé Hare, policy intern at the Institute for Higher Education Policy.]