A Dollar Today, a Dollar Tomorrow: Investigating the Effect of Timing on Pell Recipient Graduation

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Seven
  In Roundtable Session: The Landscape and Outcomes of Student Financial Aid Systems (Table 4)

Abstract

The federal Pell Grant program provides tens of billions of dollars to students seeking postsecondary degrees (Ma & Pender, 2021). This substantial investment in students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds has generated much interest from policymakers, researchers, and even ranking agencies (Aliyeva & Cody, 2018; U.S. News and World Report [USNWR], n.d; Washington Monthly, n.d.). Although scholars have widely examined the educational outcomes of Pell recipients, these studies potentially overlook differential impacts based on when students receive Pell Grants during their academic careers. Using data from the BPS:12/17, we show that the timing of Pell Grant receipt divergently predicts six-year graduation. Implications include changes to Pell Grant awarding policy and advances in theoretical understanding of Pell recipients and their outcomes.

Authors

• Nicole Tennessen, University of Iowa
  Presenting Author

• Katharine Broton, University of Iowa
  Presenting Author