Higher Education

September 1, 2022

Debt forgiveness is welcome, but more state funding to higher education is needed

President Joe Biden announced in August that the federal government plans to forgive up to $20,000 of student debt for people who took out federal student loans. People who received Pell grants and earn less than $125,000 per year ($250,000 for married couples) can get up to $20,000 in debt forgiven, while non-Pell borrowers are eligible for up to $10,000 in relief.… Read more...

May 16, 2022

Protect public access to TOPS household income data

Since 2014, the Louisiana Board of Regents has been required by state law to annually report the household income data of recipients of the state’s largest and most-expensive student financial aid program, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship. This data has shown us that since 2010-2011, the number of TOPS recipients from households with incomes of $150,000 or more has increased by 56%, while the number of recipients from the lowest-income households (earning less than $15,000) has decreased by 11% over the same time frame.… Read more...

February 9, 2022

Increasing higher education funding for incarcerated people can advance racial equity

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After nearly 30 years of unjustly denying access, the federal government is set to fully restore Pell grant eligibility for incarcerated students. The Pell grant program offers the opportunity of higher education to eligible students who demonstrate financial need.… Read more...

June 28, 2021

2021 Louisiana legislative session: A return to (somewhat) normal

Federal pandemic relief dollars lessened the pressure on the state budget and allowed the Legislature to make important new investments in education, including a much-needed boost to the Go Grants program that will make college more affordable for low-income students and the creation of the M.J.… Read more...