February 2, 2018
Despite low tuition, California college students take on debt for other costs
A report recommends California provide greater and more broadly focused financial aid to help college students afford other expenses, such as housing.
EdSource stories tagged with:
financial aid
January 23, 2018
Bed, books, meals & cell phone: New study to tally real costs of college in California
The upcoming survey by the California Student Aid Commission will be the first of its scope since 2006. It will seek information from about 100,000 students in all the public and private higher education sectors about housing, food, books, transportation, technology and other costs. Officials hope it could lead to improved financial aid.
Larry Gordon
October 10, 2017
Californians favor more college aid for both low- and middle-income students, poll finds
The poll by Berkeley IGS/EdSource found nine out of ten respondents think that more aid for low-income students is very or somewhat important. Republicans show less support than Democrats.
Larry Gordon
October 5, 2017
New online tool to track and encourage college aid applications statewide
About 56 percent of California high school seniors applied for federal or state financial aid for college. The new dashboard aims to increase that number and allow schools to compare their statistics to other schools around California.
Larry Gordon
August 30, 2017
Trump wants to cut college work study amid calls to boost job aid to public campuses
The Trump administration has proposed cutting work-study funding in half. Reformers want the payment formula to be changed so that expensive, private colleges don't receive so many advantages in the program.
Larry Gordon And Mikhail Zinshteyn
August 22, 2017
California wants to simplify its $2 billion-a-year college aid programs
The state's student aid commission is looking for ideas to consolidate various Cal Grants and other grant programs.
Larry Gordon
August 20, 2017
'A pathological optimist,' counseling award winner urges students to pursue college aid
Statewide award recipient Lynda McGee was praised for her efforts to get low-income students into college. She says that some students should try to attend college away from home to have a better shot at finishing in four years.
Larry Gordon
August 6, 2017
Understanding Cal Grant financial aid for college students: a quick guide
Cal Grants are among the most generous state-funded student aid programs in the nation and can cover entire tuition at CSU and UC.
Larry Gordon
June 13, 2017
California middle class families may still get scholarship help
The Legislature wants to maintain financial aid for UC and CSU students from families earning between $80,000 and $150,000 a year. But that conflicts with Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to phase out the program.
Larry Gordon
May 22, 2017
California colleges welcome revived federal Pell grants for summer school
To the happy surprise of some officials, thousands of California students may benefit from the expansion of federal Pell grants into summer sessions. The extra funding is expected to help speed up the time to graduation for low-income students.
Larry Gordon
May 22, 2017
White House seeks billions in cuts to higher education spending
Trump's budget proposal must still win Congressional approval. Among the deep spending cuts are $143 billion in cuts to higher education over the next decade, according to a budget summary released on Monday.
Mikhail Zinshteyn
May 11, 2017
Budget plan withholds $50 million from UC pending audit compliance and fully funds Cal Grants at private colleges
The governor's May budget revision reverses his plan to reduce Cal Grants used at private colleges. He enters the controversy over a critical audit of UC by withholding $50 million until the university system shows that it better controls spending and improves management.
Larry Gordon
May 1, 2017
Report praises UC for enrolling low-income students; criticizes other elite universities
The study contends that Pell grant students would have a better chance at graduating if they started at four-year, elite colleges. It says that affluent campuses can easily afford to enroll more.
Larry Gordon
April 30, 2017
Financial aid is key to the final and often tough choice of colleges
Students from low-income and immigrant families may face particularly difficult decisions in weighing colleges' financial aid offers. Some families are very resistant to loans.
Larry Gordon
March 13, 2017
Assembly plan seeks to reduce student debt, but raises state budget questions
The new proposed grants for housing, books and transportation could cost the state as much as $1.6 billion a year. Gov. Jerry Brown's office described that as a noble goal, but wonders where the funding would come from.