FIND-AID: COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID CASE STUDY

The current method in which many universities handle their financial aid process is very confusing and inefficient, especially for first generation college students. There is a lack of resources using accessible language that help incoming freshmen and transfer students and their families navigate and understand the financial aid process at their respective universities. This leads to increased student debt and adds an unnecessary stressor in the application process and can deter students from pursuing higher education. This project aims to identify and examine design methods that foster self-efficacy for incoming college freshmen and transfer students to develop an understanding and navigation of the financial aid process from matriculation to graduation. This is achieved in three parts, a student handbook, an interactive planner, and a financial aid portal.

In-Depth

To answer this problem, Find-Aid is created. Find-Aid is a free to student, independent financial aid service that partners with universities and acts as a supplementary service to their own outward facing financial aid services and department. This would consist of repopulating student information into a bespoke portal. A student handbook regarding the financial aid process that can be requested, sent out with specific information pertaining to the school or school system the student is applying to. As well as related ephemera promoting self-efficacy and mental wellness in students as they navigate this stressful process. Though Find-Aid cannot change the capitalist system that controls American higher education, it aims to act as an invaluable tool to help streamline this process while promoting learning and eliminating the stress and anxiety that comes with applying for financial aid. Using design principles to help break down and promote learning within the financial aid process acts as a large portion in how Find-Aid operates.

An example of the portal can be explored by clicking here.