Experiencing Financial Aid at a Historically White Institution: A Critical Race Analysis

Abstract

While scholars have looked at the intersection of financial aid and various identities, little work has examined how, if at all, race and racism are imbued into financial aid in higher education using qualitative inquiry. This paper begins that work by using a Critical Race Theory lens to analyze how, in the seemingly colorblind structure and process of financial aid, race matters. Using interview data collected from 35 Black juniors and seniors at a selective, historically White institution (HWI), the authors examine how race has informed students’ perceptions of themselves, their families, and their futures through their experiences with financial aid. The authors found that financial aid took the form of 1) a racial stereotype and microaggression, 2) added labor in searching for scholarships, and 3) a factor in reinforcing the racial wealth divide. More than a resource to facilitate college access and persistence, these scholars argue that financial aid is racialized, uniquely shaping the campus experience of Black collegians.