Despite the legislature’s extraordinary commitment to state student financial aid programs, about 16 percent of students eligible for the State Need Grant did not receive assistance under the program this year because funds ran out. Rapidly increasing demand for aid could cause even a bigger crunch for students next fall.
ICW sings the praises of student aid. Photo: Whitworth University.
Preliminary data compiled by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board found that about 74,000 students received the State Need Grant during this past academic year. However, an additional 15,000 students who qualified for grants did not receive them because the program ran out of money. There’s reason to expect even greater demand for aid as more students seek aid. From June of 2009 to May of 2010 the number of federal aid applications (FAFSA) submitted went up by 22 percent.
“The problem isn’t the state’s commitment to its largest financial aid programs—it’s the burgeoning growth in the number of students who are qualified and ready to go to college but whose personal financial resources are inadequate to cover the cost,” said John Klacik, HECB director of student financial assistance, in a news release.
We agree. In fact, the legislature recognizes the effectiveness and the importance of the State Need Grant program, and has actually increased funding for it during the last two years, despite daunting budgetary challenges. We salute them for that commitment. It’s a commitment Independent Colleges of Washington share. Over the last two years our member institutions have raised their budgets for institutional financial aid by about 10 percent each year. Next year they’ll give out more than $278 million to help students pay for a great, academically rigorous liberal arts education at an independent college. As an organization we will raise nearly $1 million more for scholarships and other financial support for students.
The pressure continues to mount. Already state analysts are predicting a $3 billion deficit for the 2011-13 budget the legislature will begin writing in January. Our ongoing mission is to convince them that student aid is a smart investment in Washington’s future. It’s an important way to create opportunity, choice, and success for students.
