Financial Need Among Four-Year College Students With Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the Literature

• In Event: Financial Aid and Literacy Unveiled: Insights Into Student Wellness, Discourse, Innovation, and Accessibility

Abstract

For students with disabilities, obtaining a four-year college degree is associated with a variety of positive outcomes. Yet, without sufficient resources to meet this unique student group’s perceived financial need (e.g., current and anticipated medical expenses), college degree completion may not be feasible for many students with disabilities. Grounded in a capital theory framework, the present systematic literature review considers the current body of literature that explores financial need and related aid among postsecondary students with disabilities (n = 11). Findings center on three key themes: (1) intersections between disability and family socioeconomic status; (2) student interactions with financial aid offices; and (3) disability’s shifting financial impact on current students. Recommendations for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

Authors

• Karly Ball Isaacson, Michigan State University

• Rachel Elizabeth Traxler, New York University

• Aljawharah Ibrahim Aljunaydil, The George Washington University

• Elisabeth Kutscher, The George Washington University