College Affordability and Financial Aid Communication Practices Report

This inaugural College Affordability and Financial Aid Communication Practices Report examines how four-year colleges and universities communicate cost, aid, borrowing, and value across six stages of the enrollment journey. It draws on a national survey of enrollment and financial aid professionals at four-year private and public institutions to provide a detailed view of communication strategies and practices.

The report is designed to help institutions step back and examine how affordability is experienced by students and families, focusing on clarity, coordination, and shared accountability across the enrollment journey. With 45 findings, colleges and universities can compare their financial aid communication strategies to similar institutions and find new ideas for communicating about awarding. In the end, the insights in this report can help reduce confusion with students and families, align teams, and build an affordability experience that guides students from first search to enrollment.