Matthew Arrojas

Miami

News Reporter at BestColleges

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Articles

Administrators Anticipate 'Disruption' of College Financial Aid Delivery

3 weeks ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Alex Pasquariello

Published on June 3, 2025Financial aid administrators are concerned that staff cuts at the Department of Education may impact students’ federal financial aid. Credit: Houston Chronicle/ Hearst Newspapers/ Getty ImagesThe Department of Education has seen substantial layoffs since March. Financial aid administrators are worried that these layoffs could affect financial aid distribution. Nearly half said their primary concern relates to students receiving federal financial aid.
Trump Admin Wants To Cut Pell Grants

3 weeks ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Alex Pasquariello

Published on June 3, 2025President Donald Trump’s budget calls for a 22.8% decrease in the maximum Pell Grant award. Credit: Anadolu / Getty ImagesThe current maximum Pell Grant award is $7,395. President Donald Trump proposed decreasing that to $5,710 for the 2026-27 academic year. It would be the first cut of the maximum Pell Grant since 1993. The White House blamed a projected Pell Grant funding shortfall for the proposed cuts.
Understanding the Future of Federal Financial Aid

1 month ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Alex Pasquariello

Updated on May 27, 2025BestColleges spoke with Melanie Storey, the newly appointed CEO and president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, to learn how changes to the federal financial aid system could impact students. Credit: The National Association of Student Financial Aid AdministratorsThe financial aid system may be in the beginning stages of significant change.
Education Department Cuts Could Leave Colleges Without Critical Data

1 month ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Alex Pasquariello

Updated on May 23, 2025Experts told BestColleges that cuts to the non-partisan Institute of Education Sciences could lead to gaps in the data that is used to analyze the U.S. higher education landscape and improve student outcomes. Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP / Getty ImagesThe Department of Education has slashed staffing at the Institute of Education Sciences in recent months. These cuts have left experts worrying that the timeliness and quality of higher education data may suffer.
Proposal Changes Financial Aid Eligibility Guidelines

1 month ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Darlene Earnest

Updated on May 20, 2025A Republican-led budget proposal would shrink the list of noncitizens eligible for federal financial aid. Credit: Andrew Harnik / Getty ImagesThe U.S. House of Representatives’ reconciliation bill proposal includes changes to federal financial aid eligibility. Notably, previously eligible noncitizens are not included in the new definition. Refugees and survivors of human trafficking, for example, are excluded from the House proposal.
Remedial College Education Reforms, Past and Future

1 month ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Alex Pasquariello

Updated on May 12, 2025Inside the past, present, and potential future of remedial education at U.S. colleges and universities. Credit: MediaNews Group / Long Beach Press-Telegram / Getty ImagesForcing students to take remedial classes makes them less likely to complete gateway courses, research shows. Still, many college systems across the country utilize remedial courses. Many advocates are pushing for a new way to prepare students for math and English courses: corequisite education.
California Proposal to Widen Online College Options

1 month ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Alex Pasquariello

Updated on May 8, 2025The proposal would make it easier for Californians to enroll in out-of-state, online college programs. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times / Getty ImagesCalifornia is currently the only state not participating in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. A proposed bill would push the state to join the agreement. If passed, students would be able to more easily enroll in out-of-state, online colleges.
Trump Budget Eliminates CCAMPIS Program

1 month ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Alex Pasquariello

Updated on May 6, 2025The president’s budget would completely eliminate childcare funding that benefits over 10,000 college students. Credit: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images NewsThe CCAMPIS program has historically enjoyed bipartisan support. In recent years, however, the program has been on the chopping block for Republican lawmakers. CCAMPIS grants help thousands of college students afford childcare and continue their studies each year.
Can FAFSA Data Identify Undocumented Parents?

1 month ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Darlene Earnest

Updated on May 5, 2025As the Trump administration increases use of federal agencies’ data in its deportation push, some higher education advocates fear the FAFSA may be used to learn whether a student has a parent or spouse who is an undocumented immigrant. Credit: Bloomberg / Getty ImagesMore than 17 million students complete FAFSA forms each year. Data from those submissions could be used to identify parents and spouses of parents who are in the U.S. without legal immigration status.
Republicans Propose Pell Grant Eligibility Cut

1 month ago | bestcolleges.com | Matthew Arrojas |Alex Pasquariello

Updated on April 30, 2025A new Republican proposal would require college students to enroll in at least 30 credit hours annually to qualify for a Pell Grant. Credit: RobertDodge / E+ / Getty ImagesRepublicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to cut more than $330 billion in education spending by slashing federal student aid programs.