Differences in Types and Amounts of Financial Aid by Institutional Category and sex

Abstract

Rationale Financial aid as it relates to college attendance is becoming an important issue as colleges and universities face dwindling enrollments and subsequent decreases in supportive funding. If need based financial aid were withdrawn from the campuses, those students dependent on aid to meet their educational costs would be forced to withdraw. This could result in dramatic enrollment decreases for the . institutions of higher education. The administration of these student aid programs becomes important in reference to Public Law 92-318, the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX of this law states that, No person in the United States shall be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education programs or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Regulations regarding Title IX specify financial aid as one area of academe which is particularly vulnerable. Given this federal mandate of nondiscrimination and the need for colleges and universities to continue providing assistance to their students, it is important to look at any differences in financial aid awards for men and women attending the same or similar types of institutions and differences among the various institutional types.