NASFAA Publishes 2020 National Student Aid Profile

The annual report gives background on the basics of the federal student financial aid programs that provide funding to millions of students each year.

July 30, 2020 — With the full extent of economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic still unclear, higher education finances — including federal aid to colleges and universities — are in the spotlight. Since enactment of the Higher Education Act in 1965, federal financial aid has been a central and critical pathway for college access, providing crucial dollars to millions of students each year. 

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) today published its newly updated National Student Aid Profile: Overview of 2020 Federal Programs, a timely resource that lawmakers, congressional staffers, and members of the media can rely on to gain background on the basics of the federal student financial aid programs, how they have been funded over time, and how many students are reached each year. 

As the global pandemic continues to take a financial toll on college and university budgets, lawmakers are also deep in negotiations over the next COVID-19 relief bill and next year’s federal budget that will determine how these programs are funded. This resource may be helpful in writing articles on the federal student aid programs, particularly as lawmakers examine program funding levels and effectiveness.

In the National Student Aid Profile, you will find an overview of the following programs:

  • The Federal Pell Grant Program
  • The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program
  • The Federal Work-Study Program
  • The Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Programs
  • The Direct PLUS Loan Program

For each program, in addition to a basic description, you will find the most up-to-date data and information on the following:

  • Number of Recipients
  • Total Volume of Awards
  • Federal Funding Levels
  • Distribution by Family Income

New to this year’s report is also data broken down by state on the following: 

  • Total aid recipients per program
  • Average aid amount per program
  • Total dollars disbursed for the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Programs
  • Total dollars disbursed for the Direct PLUS Loan Program
  • Total expenditures for the three other federal student aid programs highlighted in the report

To set up an interview with a NASFAA spokesperson to discuss the Title IV programs, budget, appropriations, or anything contained in the National Student Aid Profile: Overview of 2020 Federal Programs, please contact NASFAA Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Powers.

About NASFAA

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 28,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. For more information, visit www.nasfaa.org.

Publication Date: 7/30/2020

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