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The Role of State Policy in Promoting College Affordability

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  • Jennifer A. Delaney

Abstract

This article considers trends in state policies that determine college affordability, including trends in state general appropriations, institutional tuition and fees, and state student financial aid. Taken together, these trends demonstrate erosion in college affordability. This article also examines one recent federal policy intervention that has shaped state policy for higher education affordability, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). My analysis of ARRA shows that the “maintenance of effort†provision in the law was effective, as there was no drop in state general appropriations for higher education (including federal ARRA funds) following implementation. However, in a related analysis, I show that ARRA is negatively associated with state spending on student financial aid. Collectively, state policy trends and the ARRA analyses underscore the need for improved state policy in promoting college affordability, as an affordable college education is out of reach for an increasing proportion of students.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer A. Delaney, 2014. "The Role of State Policy in Promoting College Affordability," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 655(1), pages 56-78, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:655:y:2014:i:1:p:56-78
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716214535898
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Gary T. Henry & Ross Rubenstein, 2002. "Paying for grades: Impact of merit-based financial aid on educational quality," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(1), pages 93-109.
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    Cited by:

    1. James Monks, 2014. "The Role of Institutional and State Aid Policies in Average Student Debt," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 655(1), pages 123-142, September.
    2. William Doyle & William Zumeta, 2014. "State-Level Responses to the Access and Completion Challenge in the New Era of Austerity," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 655(1), pages 79-98, September.
    3. Laura W. Perna & Michael W. Klein & Michael K. McLendon, 2014. "Insights and Implications for State Policy-Makers," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 655(1), pages 209-230, September.

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