Skip to main content
  • About IHEP
    • About IHEP
    • Message from our President
    • History
    • What We Do
      • What We Do
      • Current Initiatives
        • Current Initiatives
        • Postsecondary Data Collaborative
        • Degrees When Due
        • Assessing The Impact of Prison-Based Postsecondary Education Programs
      • Previous Initiatives
        • Previous Initiatives
        • Global Initiatives
        • IHEP Champions of Access and Success
        • College Not Prison
        • Minority-Serving Institutions-Models of Success Program
        • Film Series: Federal Student Aid History
        • Summer Academy
        • Community Partnership for Attainment
        • Symposium on Financial Literacy and College Success at Minority-Serving Institutions
        • Walmart Minority Student Success Initiative
        • BEAMS
        • Project Win-Win
        • Redefining Access for the 21st-Century Student
        • Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery
        • Pathways to College Network
    • Who We Are
      • Who We Are
      • IHEP Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Emeritus
    • Partners
      • Partners
      • Funding Partners
    • Working at IHEP
      • Working at IHEP
      • Career Opportunities
  • Policy Priorities
    • Policy Priorities
    • Affordability & Need-Based Aid
    • Data & Transparency
    • Degree Completion
    • Higher Education for Students Impacted by the Criminal Justice System
  • Research
    • Research
    • Publications
    • Search Publications
  • Press
    • Press
    • News Releases
    • Letters, Opinions, and Statements
    • Press Clips
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

25 Years of Equity

Twitter Facebook

  • About IHEP
    • Message from our President
    • History
    • What We Do
      • Current Initiatives
        • Postsecondary Data Collaborative
        • Degrees When Due
        • Assessing The Impact of Prison-Based Postsecondary Education Programs
      • Previous Initiatives
        • Global Initiatives
          • Global Policy Fellows Program
        • IHEP Champions of Access and Success
        • College Not Prison
        • Minority-Serving Institutions-Models of Success Program
        • Film Series: Federal Student Aid History
        • Summer Academy
          • Participating Institutions
        • Community Partnership for Attainment
          • Participating Communities
        • Symposium on Financial Literacy and College Success at Minority-Serving Institutions
          • Participating Institutions
        • Walmart Minority Student Success Initiative
          • Participating Institutions
        • BEAMS
          • Participating Institutions
        • Project Win-Win
        • Redefining Access for the 21st-Century Student
        • Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery
        • Pathways to College Network
    • Who We Are
      • IHEP Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Emeritus
    • Partners
      • Funding Partners
    • Working at IHEP
      • Career Opportunities
  • Policy Priorities
    • Affordability & Need-Based Aid
    • Data & Transparency
    • Degree Completion
    • Higher Education for Students Impacted by the Criminal Justice System
  • Research
    • Publications
    • Search Publications
  • Press
    • News Releases
    • Letters, Opinions, and Statements
    • Press Clips
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

You are here

Home / About IHEP / What We Do / Previous Initiatives

Looking Back to Move Forward: A History of Federal Student Aid

How did we get here?

This documentary series provides insight into the origins and milestones of several financial aid programs as we ponder future direction and navigate foreseeable roadblocks to policy innovation. Learn from key experts about the history of financial aid in American higher education. Let’s look back to move forward.

Today

  • In 2014-2015, the federal government gave $128 billion in financial aid to students.
  • Approximately 2 million college students eligible for financial aid – specifically a Pell Grant – never apply.
  • The total amount of outstanding federal student loan debt has more than doubled since 2007.
  • There are currently eight different repayment options for federal student loans.
  • The Pell Grant Program currently serves 9 million students at an annual cost of over $30 billion; up from $11 billion to 4.8 million students over a decade ago.
  • Funding for work-study and other campus-based aid programs have stagnated in recent years.

To learn more about the film participants, please view their biographies here.

What do you think about the films’ reflection of student aid history? Visit Lumina Foundation’s page to join the conversation.

Publications

  • When the Bill Comes Due: Evolution of Student Loan Repayment (Viewing Guide)
  • How Did We Get Here? Growth of Federal Student Loans (Viewing Guide)
  • Pell Grant: Building Block of Student-Based Aid (Viewing Guide)

Videos

  • How Did We Get Here: Growth of Federal Student Loans

  • Where Financial Aid Began: Partnering with Campuses and States

  • Pell Grant: Building Block of Student-Based Aid

  • Form and Formula: How the Federal Government Distributes Aid to Students

  • The Other Side of the Ledger: Student Aid Through Tax Benefits

  • When the Bill Comes Due: Evolution of Student Loan Repayment

News

  • 3 Key Moments in the History of Student Loans (Nov 19, 2014)
  • Looking Back to Move Forward: A History of Federal Student Aid (Nov 19, 2014)

Events

  • Looking Back to Move Forward: A History of Federal Financial Aid (Nov 3, 2014)

Policy Priorities

  • Access & Success
  • Affordability & Finance

Funding Partners

Lumina Foundation

Project Team

  • Lacey H. Leegwater, M.Ed. Vice President of Planning and Operations

Research

  • Message from our President
  • History
  • What We Do
    • Current Initiatives
    • Previous Initiatives
      • Global Initiatives
      • IHEP Champions of Access and Success
      • College Not Prison
      • Minority-Serving Institutions-Models of Success Program
      • Film Series: Federal Student Aid History
      • Summer Academy
      • Community Partnership for Attainment
      • Symposium on Financial Literacy and College Success at Minority-Serving Institutions
      • Walmart Minority Student Success Initiative
      • BEAMS
      • Project Win-Win
      • Redefining Access for the 21st-Century Student
      • Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery
      • Pathways to College Network
  • Who We Are
  • Partners
  • Working at IHEP

© Institute for Higher Education Policy 1993-2020.
1825 K Street, N.W., Suite 720 Washington, DC 20006
(202) 861-8223 TELEPHONE (202) 861-9307 FAX
institute@ihep.org  |  Join Our Mailing List | Read Our Privacy Policy | Read Our Informed Consent Policy

© Institute for Higher Education Policy
1993-2014.
1825 K Street, N.W., Suite 720 
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 861-8223 TELEPHONE
(202) 861-9307 FAX
institute@ihep.org
Join Our Mailing List