Beyond Pell: A Next-Generation Design for Federal Financial Aid

October 01, 2014 by
EdTrust
Our current financial aid system focuses on helping students after they enroll, but does nothing for students who cannot afford college up front. Their families often take on burdensome amounts of debt to pay for their education. In our report Beyond Pell: A Next Generation Design for Federal Financial Aid, we ask, “Why not flip the system, so that students reap the benefits of financial aid at the most crucial time — at the start of college?
Published October 1, 2014
Related

April 02, 2026 by
EdTrust
Given the impending threats to the future of higher education, there are opportunities for states to make policy and resource decisions that can reduce the potential impact and scope of cuts
A new guide explains how Workforce Pell expands federal financial aid to short-term, career-focused programs and how states and stakeholders can implement it effectively
A study of universal FAFSA policies in four states finds that they are most effective and equitable when combined with dedicated funding, opt-out flexibility, strong support networks, accountability systems, and policies that promote college attendance