Last-dollar funding has advocates and detractors. A comparison by the Association of Community College Trustees says that it does not help to pay extra costs besides tuition and room and board associated with college attendance unlike first-dollar support.
Researchers have found low-income students may need extra assistance in three areas: clarifying financial information, easing the financial burden and filling in financial aid gaps. One problem identified by some experts is that students don’t know what their final cost will be, although the MyinTuition program, a cost calculator supported by more than 30 institutions, is promoted as a way for students to get a more accurate picture.
