Financial Aid
Insufficient financial aid represents a sizeable problem for college students nation-wide, but the circumstances are especially dire in Arizona due to severely inadequate state investment. Arizona unfortunately ranks 49th in the U.S. in state-funded financial aid. As the cost of attending a university continues to dramatically rise, this predicament seriously threatens access and affordability to higher education. Meaningful solutions will require long-term commitment to this issue, but opportunities exist now to achieve real improvements and set a path for future victories.
ASA will work to:
1. Pass the federal Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (HR3221), which cuts unnecessary subsidies to lenders in order to provide more direct aid to students
2. Protect the state-based Arizona Financial Aid Trust, by ensuring the Arizona State Legislature meets the statutory requirement to fully-fund the 2:1 ratio in the FY2011 state budget
3. Secure improvements in financial aid infrastructure at the universities to guarantee ease and access for students to all financial aid services and resources.