Student Financial Aid

Many students do not know what they are paying for or understand how student loans work, and are not fully aware of available resources. For assistance, most students know to go to financial aid, however “financial aid offices allow students to borrow thousands of dollars with several mouse clicks on online portals” (Farrington). Many students are not properly informed of their options, such as the many scholarships available to them, but simply take only what is shown to them. Easy access to loans is a slippery slope and many students fall into holes that they

Finally, the most difficult challenge students face in college is a financial hardship. Many students come from various walks of life and sometimes determining one’s financial capability to offset college costs during the early stages of can be problematic. Some students come from well to do families who have a tremendous capacity to pay full tuition without external assistance. These particular students do not require financial aid or scholarships, as they can meet the institution’s financial requirement regardless of what level in college they may fall under as the source of wealth is derived from the family or families. Other students, however, come from impoverished families whom solely depend on financial aid and work full time or part time

In addition to my experience in advising and student affairs, I have also worked as a professional in financial aid for the past eight years. During my time in financial aid I have seen first-hand the challenges students face with the cost of obtaining a higher education degree. My role in financial aid has evolved over my career while exploring the theoretical

Increasingly, in the United States it is not uncommon for an individual to apply for student loans, and attend a

A decade ago, student loans barely existed. Today, however, American students borrow up to couple million dollars a year to attend college. An entire generation is burdened with debt, and affected by the modern phenomena known as the “student debt crisis.” In recent years, student loan borrowing rates have risen notably, leading to concern about the public financial risks associated with the financial challenges faced by many students. Of late, the United States government has given out about $170 billion in financial aid annually in an effort to encourage students to attend postsecondary education. Such funding are usually supported by research that consistently finds positive and growing average economic benefits of

In the U.S. students are encouraged to earn a college degree, but the cost of an education turns many away. “Driven by the allure of a decent salary with a college degree, Americans borrowed to go to school. Outstanding student debt doubled from 2005 to 2010, and by 2012 total student debt in the U.S. economy surpassed $1 trillion” (Mian, Sufi 167). There are plenty of opportunities to obtain funds for college, including one of the most common, student loans. A student loan is defined as “a common way to fund education, specifically college and graduate school, and they provide educational opportunities that you otherwise may not be able to afford” (Barr). Student debt is at an all-time high in America. Over half of all lower income

For many people they have dreamed about going to college whether it is local or far away. They can already picture their future being successful. Some believe they already have a lot of things planned out, from how they will pay for classes to where they will live. Surprisingly everything does not always go as planned. Let’s start off with financial aid. Financial aid is any grant, scholarship, or loans that are offered to help pay your college expenses. Many time this aid provided by federal and state agencies, college or foundations. Many times the aid given to you is based off your parent’s salary. This can sometime be bad if they

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

Every year, higher education institutions (HEI’s) receive billions of dollars from the Department of Education in the form of loans, grants and subsidies. These funds are authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, and are the primary source of Federal student aid for all HEI’s in the United States. The main Title IV programs include Loans, Grants and Federal Work Study (U.S. Government Accountability Office [GAO], 2009).

The student loan system came about in the Higher Education Act or HEA of 1965 (Wenisch, 2). This act allowed “federal loan guarantees to extend to private lenders so as to encourage them to lend funds for the specific purpose of financing college education” (Wenisch, 2). The HEA was inputted so that more people, from lower income families, could still get a higher

One of the biggest challenges college students face today is debt associated by student loans. Nearly every college student will graduate with debt unless supported by academic or athletic scholarships, grants or financial aid. This issue can be addressed by encouraging students to pursue scholarships, and applying for financial aid. Though not all scholarships are capable of fully funding a student's tuition, most can help provide for fees, books, or housing. Many websites and counselors are open to providing scholarship opportunities to students who seek it. Applying for smaller scale scholarships often can result in a larger amount of money than at first anticipated. Applying for large scale scholarships are worth the time that is spent

In today’s society, it is said that having a college degree will have long term benefits. However, for some people, they wonder if college is worth it. The reason why is because of the cost of attending college. Unlike public schools, going to college is not free. Being able to attend a four-year accredited college with scholarships is almost deemed a miracle. Being able to choose which school to fit in your price range is almost heart breaking. The cost of attendance will increase based on accreditation and location. You cannot pay for college with cash money alone. With the help of financial aid, students are given money based on their parent’s income. For some low poverty students, the hopes of getting financial aid is their way to college. For others, parents set aside a trust or college fund to give to their children. Another way students pay for college is through scholarships that they earn locally, through the state, or even on a national scale. However, when the scholarships run out, a student is forced to take out student loans, and the steps after taking the money are not told until after graduation. The student debt rate is overwhelming in this country. No one wants to talk about it because it is being swept under the rug.

Presently, the availability of educational opportunities at the college and university level is a critical state and personal interest given the needs of the state for a well-educated workforce which has never been greater. Too many, the focal point of attending college is receiving a high paying job in the future. Unfortunately, in most states, tuition is on the rise and students who come from low-income families find themselves struggling to fund their education. According to legislatures, “The cost of college in New Jersey, as in the nation, continues to grow faster than the rate of inflation.” (State of New Jersey 1). In the national financial aid policy resources that are typically given to the neediest families are shifting towards

Many working individuals don’t have the time, money, or motivation to return to school after already finding a job; however, it would be helpful for the individual organizations if they offered a plan that would provide financial support for their employees who chose to further their education in order to play a greater role in their organization. Due to the fact that tuition reimbursement isn’t universal in the United States, the companies that choose to offer this type of benefit would appear more desirable for those who are looking to work their way up in a company. Providing tuition reimbursement shows that organizations are willing to invest in loyal employees, while also proving that they are willing to provide those who work hard a way to move up in the

Financial aid is helping students all over the world attend college to seek the education for the job of their dreams. This financial relief can be the difference between a student being able to go to college or to not go to college. However, there is often not enough rising awareness on the negative effects student debt can have on a person, and how they can effect a student’s career choice. Students are searching everywhere for a revival from student debt. If there were only one solution for student debt, I wouldn’t be writing this because it would probably already have been resolved. There are multiple different problems students endure from debt which varies from student to student, and many solutions have been proposed yet never have been met.