Postsecondary Affordability

In an effort to reduce student debt and increase postsecondary attainment rates, state leaders are focused on making postsecondary education affordable. Over the past few years, we’ve seen states develop and deploy many different strategies to address postsecondary affordability, ranging from free college to financial aid.

Explore the resources below to learn more about varying approaches from state to state.

Recently Published Resources

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Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

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Policy Brief

50-State Comparison: State Financial Aid Barriers for Students Impacted by the Justice System

The rising cost of postsecondary education is a barrier many students face, and it may be felt even more acutely by individuals impacted by the justice system. While the FAFSA […]

50-State Comparison: Need- and Merit-Based Financial Aid

States collectively invest over $12 billion a year to support over 4.5 million students through financial aid programs. Most states disburse aid based on students’ financial need, or a measure […]

Supporting Successful Student Transitions Through State Financial Aid Reform

This Policy Brief draws on four principles of redesigning state financial aid to better support the Classes of 2020 and 2021 as they seek to enter college or university during […]

Ed Note Blog Posts

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Postsecondary

A professor lectures to seven undergraduate students of diverse racial backgrounds in a lecture hall during the day.

Paying for College: The Latest Trends in Performance-Based Funding

Performance-based funding is a funding approach where state appropriations are allocated based on how a postsecondary institution performs on a defined set of measures. These formulas are designed to incentivize […]

High School

New Rhode Island Graduation Requirements Driven by Community Feedback

The Rhode Island Department of Education began the process of changing the state graduation requirements as a result of the analysis of the Rhode Island high school student experience provided […]

Postsecondary

The U.S. Supreme Court Considers Student Debt Forgiveness

Today marks the beginning of oral arguments in the Department of Education v. Brown and Biden v. Nebraska Supreme Court cases. These two legal challenges may determine the fate of […]

Postsecondary

Recent Federal Funding Calls Attention to Community College Supports

In January 2022, the Biden Administration announced nearly $200 million from the American Rescue Plan to fund basic needs supports for college students at community colleges and rural institutions. These […]

Postsecondary

Administrative Holds: Aiding or Preventing Student Persistence?

Thanks to the critical and thoughtful analysis and reporting of organizations like Ithaka S+R and The Hechinger Report, higher education practitioners and policymakers are starting to recognize the role of administrative hold policies […]

Postsecondary

New Hampshire Takes First Steps Toward FAFSA Completion Requirement

On Aug. 17, 2021, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed Senate Bill 147 into law, requiring each high school student in the state to complete the Free Application for Federal […]

Postsecondary

Key Takeaways From Louisiana’s FAFSA Now Pilot

Three years after implementing FAFSA as a graduation requirement, Louisiana improved FAFSA completion by more than 24%. The FAFSA Now Pilot, implemented in the 2020-21 academic year, was designed to […]

Postsecondary

This image includes three people having a discussion at a table in a naturally lit room. The two people in focus appear to be a teenage student and mother who both have long brown hair and light brown skin. On the closest side of the table, there is a blurred image of the back of a person’s head with dark brown textured hair who is holding a laptop and glasses.

Racial Equity Considerations in FAFSA Completion Policies

In an effort to support students’ transition to postsecondary education, many states are considering policies that would make FAFSA completion mandatory to graduate high school. As states are considering FAFSA […]

Postsecondary

Iowa Explores Universal FAFSA Completion

In early 2021, staffers at Iowa College Aid planned a series of virtual convenings to elicit a range of perspectives and strategies on raising statewide FAFSA completion rates. The planning […]

Postsecondary

An Inside Look at FAFSA Completion as a Graduation Requirement

For the past several legislative sessions, state leaders interested in increasing high school seniors’ FAFSA completion rates have considered whether completion should be a graduation requirement. Advocates suggest that a […]

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Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur.

Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur.

Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur.