What States Are The Leaders In Providing Student Support Toward Postsecondary Education

The National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP), located in Montana, is dedicated to the promotion of high standards in the administration/operation of student financial aid programs so that such support will be available to students in all states in order to afford them an opportunity to expand and further their postsecondary educational pursuits.

In its efforts, NASSGAP serves as a medium for the development and exchange of information and needs for student financial assistance for the benefit of its members and other student aid related organizations. The association also works with a collective of state, regional, and national councils in their mission to support student financial aid programs.

As a multifaceted organization, NASSGAP conducts research, publishes reports and holds conferences.  All of these measures are taken into account in order to engage existing student aid programs in their efforts to become more responsive to federal, regional, and state public policy goals.

Each year, NASSGAP completes a survey regarding state-funded expenditures for postsecondary student financial aid.  In its 41^st Annual Survey Report on State-Sponsored Student Financial Aid (2010), National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs stated, “a national organization recently suggested that among the top ten issues in higher education were the fiscal condition of the states, tuition policy and prices, enrollment capacity, and college readiness, all of which can affect college completion, another one of the hottest issues in higher education” (NASSGAP, p.2).

This report goes on to provide critical data relevant to state-funded expenditures for student financial aid for all fifty of the states (plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico), as well as, it comparably demonstrates the states efforts to support students/citizens in their efforts to pursue a postsecondary education. 

In addition to the efforts to display state expenditures for student grants and aid, the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs sounds bold voice within the pages of the report and states: 

For many, the goal of completing college and receiving a degree seems almost unattainable, and little or no additional help may be on the way. One of the things the Morrill Act did was to "change the game" and increase the opportunity for regular citizens to get the skills and training they needed to succeed. These days, the chance that a potential "game-changer" like the American Graduation Act, America 2000, or even eliminating the Department of Education will fundamentally alter the education landscape remains distant (NASSGAP, 2010).

Doug Lederman’s review of the NASSGAP survey provided the highlights of the findings.  He shared, “State spending on financial assistance to students increased by 3.8 percent in 2009-10, even as many governments struggled with recession-driven cuts in many programs.”  Unfortunately, Lederman’s review also revealed that nearly half of the states slashed need-based financial spending, despite the growth in postsecondary education and the financial struggles that many families faced. 

Through this report and its other efforts, the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs continues to prove itself as an opinion leader when comes to higher education finance.

Lederman, D. 2010. Mixed News on State Student Aid.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/07/11/states_increased_spending_on_student_financial_aid_in_2009_10#ixzz1c1oFTtJa

National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs. 2010. 41^st Annual

Survey Report on State-Sponsored Student Financial Aid. 

National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs. 

http://www.nassgap.org/index.aspx