What is the FAFSA? An adult learner knowledge survey of student financial aid jargon

Abstract

Although adult learners (aged 25-34) have comprised over 33% of all enrolled students in US institutions of higher education, researchers have consistently found adult learners are under-supported by federal and institutional financial aid, leading these students to experience high dropout rates and low graduation rates. To better understand what adult learners understand about the process of applying for federal student aid, this study captured nationally representative survey data from 813 adult learners applying to four-year, bachelor's degree-granting US institutions of higher education in Fall 2018. A financial aid jargon survey was written to assess what financial aid jargon terms are unfamiliar or confusing to adult learners. Results suggest some adult learners understand financial aid jargon, but many reported jargon as unfamiliar and confusing, such as Free Application for Federal Student Aid, master promissory note, entrance counseling, data retrieval tool, and non-filer's statement. Implications for research and practice are addressed.

Measuring College Student Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccinations

“…MTurk has been found to be a unique and robust source of human intelligence services, including survey completion in educational contexts (Follmer et al, 2017). Several recent studies in education focused on financial aid jargon (Taylor & Bicak, 2019) and computer science education (Hellas et al, 2020) have used MTurk to answer research questions that require a large, nationally representative dataset, akin to the study at hand related to postsecondary student attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccinations.…”

Institutional responses to state policy: Using student voice to prioritize equity

“…This chapter extended the focus of TN Reconnect analyses, moving past merely examining access and toward exploring (in)equity among students’ experiences and understanding the role institutions play in adult learners’ trajectories. The data confirmed prior research demonstrating the personal, professional, and institutional barriers adult learners face (e.g.,Kazis et al, 2007; Kamer & Ishitani, 2021; Osam et al, 2017; Taylor & Bicak, 2019). Yet, instead of outlining issues from an individual‐level deficit perspective, our analytical emphasis centered how adult students were met by community college staff, policies, and programs to emphasize institutions’ responsibility for creating structures that empower students to overcome these barriers.…”

“If you’re not happy there, you’re never going to find what you want”: Examining the transfer choice process for swirlers

“…The ability for students to pay for college tuition is an ongoing problem in higher education. Transfer students, especially community college students and adult learners, are often the neediest due to the added responsibility of personal expenses (e.g., rent, childcare) (Taylor & Bicak, 2019). When transferring, finances are a critical factor dictating students’ decisions.…”