The Role Student Aid Plays in Enrollment Management: New Directions for Student Services, No. 89

Student financial aid has always been burdened by a complex interplay of institutional needs and public policy goals. But in the past decade, that interplay has been complicated by rising college costs, increased consumerism, and the use of financial aid to meet both student needs and campus enrollment goals. This volume helps to explain the often conflicting relationship between student aid and enrollment management-and helps administrators sort out the factors most critical to effective student aid and enrollment policies. The chapters examine the political and cultural context that influences decisions about student aid and enrollment management, the special enrollment management challenges facing independent colleges, and some alternative methods for financing a college education. The authors also provide an extensive review of the research on the impact of student aid on recruitment and retention, offer recommendations for ethical enrollment planning, and furnish a valuable list of resources for enrollment planners, researchers, and policymakers.

This is the 89th issue of the quarterly journal New Directions for Student Services.