Millions of dollars in federal aid are left unclaimed by California community college students, according to a research brief released today by the Wheelhouse Center for Community College Leadership and Research at the University of California, Davis, School of Education.
A significant percentage of students don’t receive the federal aid for which they may be eligible. Although the reasons are unclear, part of the explanation may be that students don’t fill out the necessary verification paperwork or face other barriers to understanding how to access the funds. More financial aid counseling resources may improve follow-up to ensure students receive the information and help they need, and may ameliorate these problems, the report said. Future research will explore these factors.
