Delivering Early Information about College Financial Aid: Exploring the Options for Middle School Students

Postsecondary education plays a vital role in generating opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their prospects, and financial aid is critical to making this education accessible. Providing information early could help overcome the lack of awareness of financial aid, limited understanding of the system, and the tendency to overestimate the price of college. This study examines approaches to using participation in social service programs or the filing of federal income taxes as an avenue to increasing early awareness of college financial aid. Although there is not one simple route, several communication avenues through established programs have potential.