College May Still Be Costly For Students On Aid

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - "At hundreds of colleges, low-income students pay high prices, even after grant aid," so begins Beckie Supiano's article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, based on an analysis of data released by the New America Foundation.

Steven Burd, senior policy analyst, wanted to show that some wealthy institutions do a good job of serving low income students and looked at those with more than 15% of students receiving federal Pell Grants with an average net price of less than $10,000 that the lowest income group pays.

Amherst College "tops the list." With families earning $30,000 or less and 22% of its students receiving Pell Grants, low income students pay $448 while the full cost is more than $54,000. Haverford College in Pennsylvania was high on the list, also with low income students paying $1,042.

The article shows costs for low income students at more than 40 colleges, important information in helping them get to and succeed in college.