Dive Brief:
- A new report reveals a rise in college costs is limiting federal aid impact for low-income students, with more than 94% of private colleges and 47% of public colleges charging more than $10,000 annually.
- A high concentration of institutions charging high net-prices to low-income students — about 20% — are located in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
- Pell Grant recipients paying in-state tuition still paid more than $10,000 in average net-price in more than half of states.
Dive Insight:
The Obama Administration has staked its higher education legacy around Pell Grant provision through high school and prison access programs, but quietly, Washington politics is seeking to cut funding for summer instruction. When combined with price increases for regular tuition at four-year institutions, it would seem that the plan to encourage community college or credentialing programs is the forced direction for low-income students.
While some advocate for a "start-from-scratch" approach to education funding, institutions are best served by focusing on first-year success with a combination of analytical and mentoring intrusion, to position low-income students for opportunities to earn additional scholarships or merit-based funding.