To Keep Students, Colleges Cut Anything but Aid

[groovedaddy]

With the economy forcing budget cuts and layoffs in higher education, colleges and universities might be expected to be cutting financial aid. But no. Students considering a wide range of private schools, as well as those who are already enrolled, can expect to get more aid this year, not less.

The increases highlight the hand-to-mouth existence of many of the nation’s smaller and less well-known institutions. With only tiny endowments, they need full enrollment to survive, and they are anxious to prevent top students from going elsewhere.

Falling even a few students short of expectations can mean laying off faculty, eliminating courses or shelving planned expansions.

“The last thing colleges and universities are going to cut this year is financial aid,” said Kathy Kurz, an enrollment consultant to colleges. “Most of them recognize that their discount rates are going to go up, but they’d rather have a discounted person in the seat than no one in the seat.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/education/28college.html?th&emc=th

[phantom power]

1. Don't know about them, but ASU is planning major financial aid cuts.

[SheilaT]

2. ASU is hardly a smaller,

less well known college.

[geegollygosh]

3. my college...

My school isn't planning fin aid cuts as far as I know, but they are considering counting need against you on your initial application for so-so candidates. I'd rather they just cut fin aid. If they had counted my financial aid against me when I applied, I would have been both pissed off and intimidated.

[theo bromine]

4. This is good news; hope that the schools aren't too crowded!