Report Finds That Financial Aid Needs of Low-Income Students Are Not Being Met

A new report from the Southern Regional Education Board finds that 63 percent of undergraduate students at four-year institutions in the United States did not have the funds to pay for college, as calculated by the federal “expected family contribution.” The greatest shortfall in college affordability was found for families with incomes below $40,000.

Furthermore, the board found that for students from families with incomes of more than $80,000, 37 percent received financial aid grants and low-priced loans to offset their expected family contribution when in fact those families had enough money to pay for college.

Copyright © 2006. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.