The Evolution of Merit Aid

1
Merit Based Financial Aid Antecedents, Present
Landscape Future Direction
The Evolution of Merit Aid Erik C.
Ness University of Pittsburgh 25th Annual
Student Financial Aid Research Network
Conference Baltimore, Maryland June 12, 2008
2
Evolution of Merit Aid Proliferation of state
programs
1993
2003
Dynarski, S. (2004). The new merit aid. In C.M.
Hoxby (Ed.), College choices The economics of
where to go, when to go, and how to pay for it.
Chicago University of Chicago Press.
25th Annual SFARN Conference Ness
3
Evolution of Merit Aid Importance of
non-adopting states
1993
2003
Dynarski, S. (2004). The new merit aid. In C.M.
Hoxby (Ed.), College choices The economics of
where to go, when to go, and how to pay for it.
Chicago University of Chicago Press.
25th Annual SFARN Conference Ness
4
Evolution of Merit Aid Nine broad-based
programs
25th Annual SFARN Conference Ness
5
Evolution of Merit Aid Summary

• What do we know?
• States continue to adopt merit aid programs
• Negative social consequences persist
• Wheres it going?
• Examination of non-adopting states
• Examination of merit aid policy evolution
• Whats the impact?
• Consequences for raising criteria for
  increasing funding
• Emerging evidence of merit aid as policy
  accelerant

25th Annual SFARN Conference Ness