Research Brief
How Can State Financial Aid Best Meet the Needs of Low-Income Students?
Aug 31, 2020
In partnership with the state of Wisconsin, RAND Corporation researchers created and analyzed a new database connecting state grant aid applications to the educational attainment of applicants. The Wisconsin experience reflects several national trends and several challenges faced by other states operating need-based financial aid programs. This report describes current outcomes and how research might be used to support policy decisions.
State Policy and Student Pathways
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States around the U.S. are increasingly shifting higher education funding away from supporting public institutions and toward providing individual students with need-based financial aid to offset tuition and living expenses. This strategy could diversify and increase the number of students obtaining college degrees, but inherently presents challenges in choosing which income levels are eligible to receive aid, identifying the eligible population at those income levels, and delivering aid at a time and in an amount that will meaningfully support college attainment.
This report describes the policy design, implementation, and outcomes of the Wisconsin Grant. In partnership with the state of Wisconsin, RAND Corporation researchers created and analyzed a new database connecting state grant aid applications to the educational attainment of applicants. The author explores the pathways of aid recipients and the effects of recent funding shortages.
Chapter One
Challenges for State Need-Based Aid Programs
Chapter Two
Student Pathways in Wisconsin
Chapter Three
Design of the Wisconsin Grant
Chapter Four
Implementation of the Wisconsin Grant
Chapter Five
Building Evidence for Wisconsin Grant Policy
Chapter Six
Ways Forward and Report Implications
The research described in this report was funded by the Ascendium Education Group and conducted by RAND Education and Labor.
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