Journal of Student Financial Aid
Short Title
Study Abroad for Low-income Students
Abstract
This study explores factors related to low-income students’ decisions to participate in study abroad while focusing specifically on the role of need-based grant aid in this decision-making process. Estimates account for systematic differences between students receiving and not receiving need-based grant aid using propensity score modeling (PSM) before disaggregating models by need-based grant aid status. Results indicate that need-based grant aid significantly increases a student’s probability of participating in study abroad. Additionally, disaggregated models show that the study abroad decisions of students receiving need-based grant aid differ significantly from those not receiving this aid, particularly when considering other forms of financial aid, such as loan debt. Specifically, low-income students appear to take on additional loan debt to access study abroad when they do not receive need-based grant aid. These findings have important implications for policy and practice that is focused on increasing access to study abroad to a diverse U.S. student population.
Recommended Citation
Whatley, Melissa and Clayton, Ashley B.
(2020)
"Study Abroad for Low-income Students: The Relationship Between Need-based Grant Aid and Access to Education Abroad,"
Journal of Student Financial Aid: Vol. 49
:
Iss.
2
, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55504/0884-9153.1679
Available at:
https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jsfa/vol49/iss2/1