Phoenix non-profit: State aid is needed for low-income students

PHOENIX — A Phoenix non-profit says if Arizona wants to succeed, it must increase direct-to-student financial aid for college.

“Almost seven of every 10 jobs that we are bringing here are going to require training past high school – just to do the job,” said Rich Nickel, CEO of College Success Arizona.

“Today, low-income students – which represent half our youth population – simply are not going to college,” he said. “It’s a result of the state’s lack of student aid support.”

The report says Arizona’s public universities and colleges have received less and less in state financial support in the past several years. However, the number of low-income students who are planning to attend college has jumped.

So far, the state has not increased direct-to-student financial aid for those students.

College Success Arizona recommends crafting a program that is easy to understand and transfers easily between schools, is brought to students’ attention early, and targets those who need it most.

You can read College Success Arizona’s entire report here.

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