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Home / Research / Current Initiatives

Looking Back to Move Forward: A History of Federal Student Aid

How did we get here?

This documentary series provides insight into the origins and milestones of several financial aid programs as we ponder future direction and navigate foreseeable roadblocks to policy innovation. Learn from key experts about the history of financial aid in American higher education. Let’s look back to move forward.

Today

  • In 2014-2015, the federal government gave $128 billion in financial aid to students.
  • Approximately 2 million college students eligible for financial aid – specifically a Pell Grant – never apply.
  • The total amount of outstanding federal student loan debt has more than doubled since 2007.
  • There are currently eight different repayment options for federal student loans.
  • The Pell Grant Program currently serves 9 million students at an annual cost of over $30 billion; up from $11 billion to 4.8 million students over a decade ago.
  • Funding for work-study and other campus-based aid programs have stagnated in recent years.

To learn more about the film participants, please view their biographies here.

What do you think about the films’ reflection of student aid history? Visit Lumina Foundation’s page to join the conversation.

Publications

  • When the Bill Comes Due: Evolution of Student Loan Repayment (Viewing Guide)
  • How Did We Get Here? Growth of Federal Student Loans (Viewing Guide)
  • Pell Grant: Building Block of Student-Based Aid (Viewing Guide)

Videos

  • How Did We Get Here: Growth of Federal Student Loans

  • Where Financial Aid Began: Partnering with Campuses and States

  • Pell Grant: Building Block of Student-Based Aid

  • Form and Formula: How the Federal Government Distributes Aid to Students

  • The Other Side of the Ledger: Student Aid Through Tax Benefits

  • When the Bill Comes Due: Evolution of Student Loan Repayment

News

  • 3 Key Moments in the History of Student Loans (Nov 19, 2014)
  • Looking Back to Move Forward: A History of Federal Student Aid (Nov 19, 2014)

Events

  • Looking Back to Move Forward: A History of Federal Financial Aid (Nov 3, 2014)

Policy Priorities

  • Access & Success
  • Affordability & Finance

Funding Partners

Lumina Foundation

Project Team

  • Julie Ajinkya, Ph.D. Vice President of Applied Research
  • Lacey H. Leegwater, M.Ed. Vice President of Planning and Operations

Research

  • Publications
  • Search Publications
  • Current Initiatives
    • College Not Prison
    • Film Series: Federal Student Aid History
    • Postsecondary Data Collaborative
    • Degrees When Due
    • Assessing The Impact of Prison-Based Postsecondary Education Programs
  • Previous Initiatives

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1993-2014.
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