financial aid

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.

Larry Gordon

March 3, 2017

Dream Act application numbers surpass last year's after successful campaign to overcome fears

The final application numbers top last year's by 5 percent after much publicity and pledges that personal data will not be shared with federal authorities.

Larry Gordon

February 26, 2017

Private California colleges protest proposed cut in state grants for low-income students

Incoming students at 90 private colleges in California face a possible $1,028, or 11 percent, cut to the Cal Grants they hope to receive. The colleges say that avoiding that reduction will help take enrollment pressures off UC and CSU. But Gov. Jerry Brown is looking for belt-tightening in higher education.

Larry Gordon