Improving access to higher education in Arizona for students from low-income families

This study focused on the loss of low-income students in the educational pipeline from high school graduation to college entry. It examined the status of college participation in states for this population of students relative to several variables: state need-based grants, state nonneed-based grants, public four-year tuition and fees, median family income, and academic preparation. The relationships between these variables and college participation rates for low-income students (CPRLS) were analyzed. A specific goal of this study was to determine which factors most affect those rates to determine ways to improve access in states, like Arizona, with poor CPRLS.; A state-level analysis was conducted using crosstabulations, chi-square tests, and stepwise multiple linear regression. All of the variable analysis included a focus on Arizona. The findings from this study revealed patterns distinguishing states with higher CPRLS from states with lower rates. On average, better performing states were associated with higher state need-based grant per full-time equivalent (FTE), higher public four-year tuition and fees, higher median family income, higher academic preparation, but lower state nonneed-based grant per FTE.; Significant and positive relationships were found between CPRLS and all of the variables except state nonneed-based grant, which revealed a significant and negative relationship. Of the variables examined, state need-based grant and academic preparation had the most effect on CPRLS.; Arizona ranks among the bottom three states with respect to CPRLS. While tuition is among the lowest, the state is also among the lowest investors in state need-based student aid, aid that has declined while tuition has soared. In addition, Arizona is among the poor performers in academic preparation, particularly for low-income students, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress.; The findings in this study suggest that by providing higher levels of need-based grants and improving academic preparation, states like Arizona may raise college participation rates for their students from low-income families.