Report Highlights Financial Aid Strategies that Result in Postsecondary Degree Completion

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Helios Education Foundation, in conjunction with the nonpartisan, non-profit research firm WestEd, examined financial aid supports throughout the country to find innovative strategies that result in higher than average postsecondary degree completion, with lower than average student debt. The resulting education brief, Financial Aid from Entry to Completion, surveys the national landscape while focusing on creative approaches in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Texas that achieve impactful results.

Report insights explore the challenges of financial aid in three categories (1) overcoming barriers to financial aid access, (2) facilitating degree-completion goals, and (3) limiting student debt. Case studies focus on creative programs that address these challenges, some solutions taking a statewide approach while others are institution driven.

There are multiple reasons why students who set out to complete a postsecondary degree fall short. Often when students acquire some credits but do not complete a degree, they also acquire debt without the added earnings potential. "It's imperative that students find appropriate supports all along their education journey, from postsecondary access to completion. Support, particularly financial support, is critical to ensure more first-generation, minority, and underrepresented students complete a postsecondary degree," said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation.

Meaningful learnings from this report led to proposed recommendations with implications for states, institutes of higher education, and for communities. "In this brief, we learn from proven initiatives, explore opportunities for scalability and challenge current systems so that more students experience the transformative power of education," said Paul Perrault, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Evaluation with Helios Education Foundation.

To obtain a copy of Financial Aid from Entry to Completion and learn more about Helios Education Foundation, visit http://www.helios.org/news-media/publications

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to achieve a postsecondary education. The Foundation's work is driven by four fundamental beliefs in Community, Investment, Equity, and Partnership.  Helios invests in programs and initiatives across the full education continuum – from early grade success through postsecondary education.  In Arizona, where Latino students comprise the largest percentage of the K-12 public school population, the Foundation is implementing its Arizona Latino Student Success initiative focused on preparing all students - especially students in high poverty, underserved Latino communities - for success.  Through Helios' Florida Regional Student Success Initiative, the Foundation is helping underserved, minority, first-generation students from the state's large population centers in of Tampa, Orlando, and Miami achieve a postsecondary education. Since 2006, the Foundation has invested more than $215 million in education programs and initiatives in both states. To learn more about Helios, visit http://www.helios.org

About WestEd
WestEd is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research, development, and service agency that works with education and other communities throughout the United States and abroad to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. Agency headquarters are in San Francisco.

Media Contact: Grace Maseda
[email protected]
PH: 813.449.6307

SOURCE Helios Education Foundation

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http://www.helios.org