Authors

Casey George-Jackson, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignFollow
Melanie Jones Gast, DePaul UniversityFollow

Addressing Information Gaps: Disparities in Financial Awareness and Preparedness on the Road to College

Short Title

Financial Awareness and Preparation

Abstract

The rising cost of higher education and questions of affordability are concerns for many families in the United States, but particularly for those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. The knowledge of, information about, and perceptions related to how to pay for college can impact preparatory actions taken by families to prepare to pay for college. This commentary reviews literature published on pre-college financial awareness and preparation between 2000 and 2013 to examine what we know about the topic and to highlight existing disparities by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Implications are offered for programs and policies seeking to address these inequities, as well as suggestions for future research on this important but under-researched topic.

Recommended Citation

George-Jackson, Casey and Gast, Melanie Jones (2015) "Addressing Information Gaps: Disparities in Financial Awareness and Preparedness on the Road to College," Journal of Student Financial Aid: Vol. 44 : Iss. 3 , Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55504/0884-9153.1540
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jsfa/vol44/iss3/3