Fiancial Aid Roller Coasting: An Estimation of Losing and Regaining the HOPE Grant on Academic Outcomes

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Roundtable 1

Abstract

This study examines the impact of losing and regaining HOPE Grant support in Georgia’s 2-year colleges. Using longitudinal, census state-wide data and propensity score weighting, we find that students who regained HOPE (HOPEful) were more likely to be Women (73%) than their potentially HOPEless (61%) and their HOPEless (68%) counterparts. Although HOPEful students started with lower cumulative GPA than both of their counterparts, they managed to bring this GPA up to regain HOPE. No race comparison rendered differences and in the case of Pell status, both HOPEless and HOPEful students were as likely to be Pell recipients. We conclude that aid recovery improves graduation probability and persistence. Findings support recovery-oriented financial aid policies and the need for additional institutional support.

Authors

• Manuel S. Gonzalez Canche, University of Pennsylvania

• Youning Zhao, Michigan State University

• Feifan Shan, University of Pennsylvania