- Each year, millions of students and parents electronically transfer their own tax information directly into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), automatically answering up to 20 high-stakes financial questions. This process has been available to FAFSA applicants since 2010. And since 2016, students have been able to file the FAFSA before college applications are typically due. TICAS led the charge for these major simplifications of the FAFSA process, making it much less time-consuming and error-prone for millions of students and families.
- Research shows the a majority of students rule out colleges based on “sticker price” without considering financial aid, which can dramatically lower the cost. Net Price Calculators can help students look past “sticker price” and learn which schools they may be able to afford. After our research showed that many of these calculators are difficult to find, use, and compare, the Education Department addressed several issues we identified. Bipartisan House and Senate bills were introduced with more improvements based on our findings, and bipartisan legislation including many of these changes passed the full House in both 2014 and 2016.
- Community colleges enroll the majority of low-income students, and California is home to more than 1 in 5 community college students. College policies and practices – from setting office hours, to verifying aid eligibility, to deciding whether to offer federal loans – affect whether students get the aid they need to succeed. Our research identifies both promising and problematic approaches to financial aid at community colleges.
