IHEP Institute for Higher Education Policy

JULY 2, 2025

It combines valuable student interview data with administrative data, including FAFSA data that’s only available from the federal government.  Here are three examples of how NPSAS data provide unique and important insights about federal policy and spurred changes to increase student access to financial aid.

FAFSA

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Department of Education, the Upward Bound program works with students from six area high schools that are identified as potential first-generation college students. Outreach efforts include education on financial aid options, including grants, scholarships and aid for undocumented students. They’re on a journey.

Retention

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Of them, 2,718 were first-generation college students. While there are FAFSA webinars available, I believe community and family focused FAFSA and financial aid workshops in tribal communities might be an effective way to promote college going overall among indigenous students.”

Higher education

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MARCH 12, 2025

I later earned my General Education Diploma (G.E.D.) By the time I transferred to the State University, I realized I was a decent student and no longer anxious about my financial aid being denied for academic standing. I began teaching College Success courses to first generation, low income, multicultural students.

Mentoring

Timely MD

DECEMBER 18, 2024

For underrepresented groups such as first-generation college students, students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and those from low-income backgrounds additional pressures and other factors like stigma or lack of awareness, often compound these challenges and cause students to hold back from seeking the care and support they need to thrive.

Mental health

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JANUARY 14, 2025

Elms College, a Catholic liberal arts institution in Western Massachusetts, has announced an ambitious new financial aid initiative that will cover full tuition for eligible state residents from lower and middle-income families. Founded by the Sisters of St.

Financial aid

IHEP Institute for Higher Education Policy

MARCH 10, 2025

The recent cancellation of critical postsecondary studies conducted by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) will have dire effects on our understanding of the realities of todays college students especially those who are veterans, parents, working, or first-generation.

First generation

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

When LaShelle Williams-Franklin arrived at Howard University as a first-generation college student from Cleveland, Ohio, she had her academic LaShelle Williams-Franklin plan perfectly mapped out. They pressed upon me the importance of education, but we didnt know about the financial piece that accompanies going to college.

Scholarship

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

They have generated leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, groundbreaking artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and activists who shaped the Black experience and the fabric of American society. Over the past few years, Howard University received millions for financial aid assistance, debt relief and infrastructure improvements.

Financial aid

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MAY 1, 2025

House Republicans have unveiled sweeping legislation that would dramatically reshape federal student aid programs, potentially making college more expensive for millions of students while cutting federal spending by an estimated $185 billion over the next decade.

Low income student

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MARCH 24, 2025

According to the March 20 resolution, the directive impacts numerous operational areas including admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, administrative support, discipline, and graduation ceremonies. Meanwhile, Republican legislators have applauded the board's decision.

Community college

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MARCH 24, 2025

His visionary AccessUVA program dramatically expanded financial aid, opening doors for first-generation and low-income students who previously could not have considered attending the prestigious institution. This personal experience informed his passionate advocacy for educational access throughout his career.

Low income student

NACAC's Admitted

AUGUST 8, 2025

The Common App opened the 2025-2026 application season with new equity-driven features, including a required question on student responsibilities outside school, expanded direct admission, and improved scholarship notifications for first-generation and low-income students. Access challenges remain front and center.

Title IV

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

The Morrill Scholarship has historically been awarded to students committed to diversity-based leadership, while the Young Scholars Program serves first-generation, low-income underrepresented students. Carter assured that current student scholarships and financial aid will not be affected by these changes.

Inclusion

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 8, 2024

State financial aid programs across the country have varying levels of accessibility for students and plenty of room to improve, according to a recent report from The Education Trust. State financial aid programs can help alleviate these burdens, but such programs in the current day are lacking, according to the report.

Financial aid

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MARCH 1, 2023

Department of Education (ED), which it will use to serve low-income and first-generation students interested in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degrees from select high schools. Pima Community College has received nearly $1.5 million from the U.S.

First generation

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Department of Education (ED) is delaying the sending out of student information relevant for financial aid calculations to institutions, higher ed scholars and officials have voiced concern and uncertainty over how this change will affect low-income and first-generation students in particular.

FAFSA

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

Manny Rodriguez His job entails research and collaboration with other education groups, state legislators, and education officials in accordance with TICAS’s mission to increase college access, affordability, and success through improvements in student financial aid policies.

Financial aid

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MAY 20, 2024

This first Equity Innovations Guide illustrates results the organization has gathered from pilots and initiatives it had implemented over the years on matters of college admissions, financial aid, and equity. The guide is meant to communicate the efforts Common App has been undertaking and would like to scale up, Sample said.

Low income student

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MARCH 13, 2024

Institutions review the data and put together a financial aid offer, helping families decide which institution is the best fit for them and their wallets. For states that run out of state aid, if you’re not one of the students who was able to successfully navigate getting a FAFSA I.D.,

FAFSA

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 4, 2024

We don’t want the unprecedented delays and changes in this year’s federal aid application process to deter them from coming to CUNY or any college." They will help high school seniors with the journey of applying to and entering college, including the financial aid process, according to CUNY officials. Matos Rodríguez. "We

FAFSA

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 9, 2024

Latino college students are more likely to be first-generation students and less likely to leave college having earned their degrees, according to a new report from Excelencia in Education. Many Latino students require financial assistance to attend college, the report noted.

Education

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JANUARY 29, 2024

In concert with Rhode College’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as well as affordability, the Office of Admission strives to identify, recruit, and enroll domestic students who are underrepresented in higher education, including first-generation college students, low-income students, and students of color.

Low income student

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 20, 2023

Is it developing boutique programs on each campus for diverse, first-generation students? These advisors help students apply to any colleges of their choosing and are a tremendous asset to first-generation students who often find the application process daunting. In Kansas, we are fortunate to have great partners.

Guided pathways

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

The California Student Aid Commission, which administers the state’s financial aid program, has found that student parents face housing and food insecurity at a higher rate than non-parenting peers. 61% are first-generation college students. 47% work full-time and 83% enroll part-time or for part of the year.

Students

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

OCTOBER 9, 2023

It enrolls roughly 43% first-generation Latino students. Approximately 33% of ASU’s enrollment is dual credit students (3,700 students taking both high school and college courses), 43% of whom are Latinos and first-generation college students. Additionally, 39.93% of graduate students are Latino.

Retention

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MAY 26, 2023

These two-year and four-year institutions must also enroll a significant number of students who require needs-based financial aid. This includes working on retention strategies that emphasize information on financial aid and mental health services as well as continuing to build a sense of belonging.

Tutoring

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JULY 11, 2024

Currently at Radford, we have a [student] population of 37% Pell-eligible students, and depending on the year, there’s usually 30% to 35% first-generation students as well. Currently, all Virginia public four- and two-year institutions have received an award of varying sizes,” said Andes.

Low income student

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

AUGUST 22, 2023

Non-first-generation students were 2.5 points for potential first-generation students. All in all, the researchers found that direct admissions was less impactful on application or enrollment than an offer of financial aid, conditioned on admission. points likelier. points likelier to apply, compared to 3.2

Application

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MAY 11, 2023

Thomas in Minnesota, where almost all the students are minoritized and nearly three-quarters are first-generation, has managed to buck this trend. They have access to financial aid counselors, college persistence counselors, and a life coach, and are placed into paid internships after they finish a professional development course.

Student success

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JULY 25, 2024

If implemented, its recommendations would likely lead to significant cuts in funding for programs designed to support underrepresented students, including recruitment and retention programs for minority students, financial aid for low-income students, and support services for first-generation college students.

Higher education

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 21, 2023

They’re going to know that 41% of students are first-generation, that we have an office of student belonging. Institutions are also improving their financial aid offerings. This year, Queens revamped its scholarship levels and allocation of aid to meet a higher percentage of students’ financial need.

Communication

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JULY 11, 2024

Ochoa said that 80% of TAMUSA’s transfer students come to them from Alamo Colleges, and 70% of TAMUSA students are first-generation. Ninety-eight percent of his students receive some form of financial aid. “That’s why opening pathways and building bridges is very, very important.”

Mathematics

IHEP Institute for Higher Education Policy

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Data Disaggregation Shows Disparities in Immigrant Students’ Unmet Need by Race and Ethnicity The broad data suggests that unmet need decreases with each generation. Data from 2019 showed that 82% of first-generation immigrant students faced unmet need, a figure that declined to 72% for those third generation or higher.

Financial aid

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Most of Compton's Black students are first-generation and from households where the adults are paid low wages. At our Black-serving institution, the maintenance and operations team, primarily men of color, encourage students to apply for financial aid or recommend grabbing a free meal before heading off campus to work or to class.

Leadership

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MAY 17, 2023

Using traditional sources of financial aid and TFJSA funds, Alamo sent a special cohort of 10 students to CHCP’s program at no cost for tuition, laptop, books, and course materials. Eight were first-generation, and eight were students of color. Nine of them were female, and nine were over 25.

Community college

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

OCTOBER 1, 2023

A first-generation Mexican-American and first-generation college student, Gonzalez says she has always been motivated to help her family move up the social mobility ladder. Seventy-two and a half percent of the students in the program are first-generation college students and 75% are Pell grant eligible.

Mentoring