Nonetheless, securing need-based aid is critical—particularly since, according to a 2011 posting by Jenna Johnson, ―Nearly half of African American undergraduates receive Pells, as do 40 percent of Latino undergrads.‖ (Jenna Johnson, ―College presidents, students lobby to keep Pell Grant
funding,‖ The Washington Post—Campus Overload, July 21, 2011.) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/campus-overload/post/college-presidents-studentslobby-to-keep-pell-grant-funding/2011/07/21/gIQAz9KRSI_blog.html
Indeed, the Roadmap (discussed earlier) offered this recommendation in regard to reducing the cost of college for Latinos: Guarantee need-based aid for qualified students.‖ [emphasis in original] As it explained, ‗Finding and receiving sufficient financial aid to pay for college are complex and cumbersome processes. Providing potential and current students with a guarantee of their eligibility for financial support has been effective for enrolling and retaining lowincome students at several institutions and has the potential to be effective on a larger scale.‘ (Roadmap for Ensuring America‟s Future By Increasing Latino College Completion, Excelencia in Education, March 2011, p. 15.) http://www.edexcelencia.org/initiatives/EAF/Roadmap
Also from the Roadmap regarding cost of college was the recommendation to ―Make college accessible and affordable for students of all economic backgrounds.‖ [emphasis in original] ―Policy efforts‖ offered included the following: Market state scholarship programs more intentionally targeted at students from economically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities to increase their application of federal and private financial aid resources to pay for college. Create financial incentives for low-income students to remain continuously enrolled in higher education until degree attainment. This could include loan forgiveness, textbook waivers, or tuition discounts to students who remain continuously enrolled. . . . Expand need-based funding from the state for low-income students. [and] Charge leaders of public higher education institutions to develop a coordinated action plan to increase capacity, access, and degree attainment . . . . (Roadmap for Ensuring America‟s Future By Increasing Latino College Completion, Excelencia in Education, March 2011, p. 17.) http://www.edexcelencia.org/initiatives/EAF/Roadmap
An April 2011 report indicates that students across the United States at community colleges that choose not to participate in the federal loan program are denied the opportunity to have such loans—which may result in them taking out private loans, with higher interest rates, or using credit cards to pay 141