Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

In the past fifty years since the inception of the Higher Education Act, federal policies regarding financial aid have expanded in scope, intent, and access. Prior to this landmark legislation, federal intervention and financial support of higher education was minimal, with most of the control lying with individual states. Whereas financial support for higher education was previously directed at institutions, federal financial aid provided funding for individual students, initially as a means for increasing access for underrepresented and disadvantaged populations. The evolution of federal financial aid represents the historical, political, and policy changes during the past five decades and illustrates the gradual shift in societal values

       Recently President Obama proposed a plan to make two years of community college free to

Free college tuition is crucial for the millions of students across the country that either cannot afford an education or are struggling with enormous debts. Statistics show that the amount of

Everyone needs money to pay for college. The Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid opened this month. Completing FAFSA is required to be eligible for over $24 billion in grants, loans, work study and even scholarships. Students must complete the FAFSA every year in order to continue to be eligible for financial aid.

Financial barriers for higher education has climbed over the last ten years. Today, over 40 million Americans have student loans. Of these 40 million, most individuals are struggling to maintain payments on the loans (Hillary for America, 2016). Since 2004, the tuition for in-state colleges and universities has risen by about 42 percent and with the recent Great Recession, states have continued to decrease spending on higher education at a rapid rate (Hillary for America, 2016). It is estimated that states are only contributing around $1,805 per student, which is estimated to be 20 percent less than what was contributed only seven years’ prior. The federal government in

(2008) stated by providing partial scholarships Division II institutions help increase male enrollment, ethnic diversity, geographic diversity, and student volunteerism. However, this does present an added financial burden for Division II colleges and universities. In Division II institutions, student athletes are required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which provides aid for educational purposes. The athletic grant is then used to subsidize the federal

State legislators slashed more than $121 million from college financial aid programs alone, leaving 29,000 students without the possibility of receiving aid from TEXAS grants, the state’s financial aid program for needy students. Since Texas colleges and universities were also cut 9 percent by the legislator, they were forced to raise prices for students. Due to the uncertainty of the Texas financial aid, many college administrators reported losing numerous highly qualified students to out-of-state universities and colleges and many families have lost the ability to pay for tuition because of the lack of resources.

The FAFSA can be filed starting on October 1. It works as a first come, first serve basis, and can save students a lot of money. The FAFSA requires your social security number and your family’s tax returns. The CSS profile is another kind of financial aid that is presented by the College Board, but has an initial fee.

One of the most highly debated proposals from President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address is a new government program that would cover the cost of community college. The “American College Promise” would provide free tuition to students who enroll in a community college for at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA), make steady progress towards completing an associate’s degree and cannot have an adjusted gross income of above two hundred thousand dollars. Obama has stated that the new proposal will benefit roughly nine million students each year by earning them an associate’s degree at no cost. Although the new proposal can be seen as a panacea for all incoming college students, the opposition is true due to the fact that community college is affordable, exclusive, and will hurt the economy by causing the current United States debt to increase.

This proposal would make all community colleges free nation-wide for only “responsible students.” It would also help students achieve half of their bachelor’s degree for free. Obama once stated that by the year of 2020, there would be about thirty-five percent careers that need at least a bachelor’s degree, while another thirty percent expects an associate’s degree. There are separate requirements and expectations for all students, community colleges, and the federal government. Around the same time, President Obama introduced another proposal called the American Technical Training Fund. This proposal is meant to increase students’ education and technical training fields or programs (Hudson). Towards the beginning of January of 2015, President Obama put Tennessee’s free college plan in the spotlight. There was some success when this started. Over three-fourths of about sixty-five thousand high school seniors signed up for this free community college plan. What was interesting was that it included a lot of seniors who before did not want to go to college after high school. Although, not all of the people who applied are going to go to a community college. According to Mike Krause, he thinks that there will be more than ten thousand students who enroll in community college and about twenty percent of these students were the ones who did not want to attend a community college (Kelderman 1). Free community college would help and support a lot of students, but there are always requirements

I. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students that want to go to college can go their website and fill out a form every year. Then FAFSA decides what programs that student is eligible for to get student financial aid from the U.S. Government.

It’s an idea that pops up every now and then. Every year many young people work hard to pass their school-leaving exams and enter a college. However, for many of them acquiring good marks is not the only worry. Unlike the lucky minority from wealthy families, they must also think about the ways of getting money to pay for their education. For a half century, federal funding has flowed to students in the form of vouchers, and students have had the power to choose from an array of providers--public, private, and for-profit. Making education free can stretch from an array of getting rid of student debts/loans to decreasing the amount of unqualified jobs with the help of President Obama 's idea of making community colleges "free." The government claims that free education is impossible, as there is no possibility to subsidize the universities and colleges with the budget funds. Moreover, when education is fully supported financially by the state, colleges lose their independence and the spirit of democracy and freedom. .

“Forty percent of our college students choose community college, some are young and starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy, without a load of debt,” president Obama outlined his proposal to Congress offering free community college (“Obama: Community college”). The Obama's plan, called America's College Promise would provide free two years of community college tuition for responsible students going to school at least half-time, as long as students maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and it will cover certificate programs, an associate’s degree,

During this year’s State of the Union address, President Obama reiterated his commitment to make two years of community college free for all Americans who are willing to work hard toward graduation. His vision was inspired by other programs in states like Tennessee and Chicago. His vision is being called “The American College Promise,” and would allow students to complete a certificate, an associate’s degree, or the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at no cost. That being said, a leader in Washington feel financial hardship also contributes to the dropout rates in colleges across the country.

Executive Office of the President says, “A full-time community college student could save an average of three thousand eight-hundred dollars in tuition per year” (Executive Office of the President n.p.). Indicates that students would save so much money going to community college, if it was free. Students would be able to concentrate more on classes, instead of worrying about their financial situations. Executive Office of the President says, “the creation of the twenty-five hundred dollars of American Opportunity Tax Credit, reforming student loans to eliminate subsidies to banks to invest in making college more affordable and keeping student debt manageable” (Executive Office of the President n.p.). Implies that this would help substantially with debt for college students and put students minds at ease with their financial responsibilities. People having less or no debt is an advantage for anyone who is in college or has attended college. Goldrick-Rab says, “this income/aid problem has the effect of students from middle- and low-income families becoming more likely to drop out from public colleges and universities. Instead of finishing college and earning a degree, they leave college without a degree and with debts they realistically have no hope of ever being able to repay” (Goldrick-Rab 3). Suggests that if students got to attend community college tuition free they would