48. Provide financial aid workshops to current and prospective students of color, first-generation students, historically underrepresented students, and their families.
Here’s what the federal government can do:
- The U.S. Department of Education should ensure higher education institutions and local education agencies (LEAs) have access to and an understanding of best practices to provide informational workshops about financial aid to students of color, first-generation students, historically underrepresented students, and their families.
- The U.S. Department of Education should ensure higher education institutions have access to and an understanding of best practices to improve transparency of financial aid offer letters.
Here’s what state government can do:
- State legislatures should provide support for K-12 schools and other public institutions (e.g., libraries and community centers) to offer financial aid workshops and information for students and families.
Here’s what institutional leaders can do:
- Higher education institutions should ensure that students of color, first-generation students, historically underrepresented students, and their families have access to and an awareness of financial aid resources available to them.
- Higher education institutions should prioritize language accessibility in their efforts to inform students and their families about financial aid resources available to them.
Many students of color, first-generation students, and students with lower incomes may not be fully aware of the financial aid resources and opportunities available to them to make college more affordable. Higher education institutions should host workshops on financial aid before students apply for college. The U.S. Department of Education should share information to support transparency in financial aid offer letters so that students can meaningfully compare their options.[i] The department should also share information for students and their families about financial aid, including:[ii]
- The cost of college
- How to estimate financial aid
- How to complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form
- The different types of federal aid available, including their differences and requirements
- How to find and apply for scholarships and grants.
[i]2021-22 Undergraduate College Financing Plan Template. U.S. Department of Education. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/guid/aid-offer/2021-22collfinanplantemplatnungrad.pdf.
[ii] “Supporting First-Generation and Low-Income Students beyond the College Acceptance Letter,” U.S. Department of Education, October 20, 2021. https://blog.ed.gov/2021/04/supporting-first-generation-low-income-students-beyond-college-acceptance-letter/.