Higher Education Act

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, authorizes a broad array of federal student aid programs that assist students and their families with financing the cost of a postsecondary education, as well as programs that provide federal support to postsecondary institutions of higher education (IHEs). Programs authorized by the HEA provide support for higher education in several ways, including providing support to students in financing a postsecondary education, with additional support and services given to less-advantaged students; providing support to students pursing international education and certain graduate and professional degrees; and providing support to IHEs in improving their capacity and ability to offer postsecondary education programs. This book provides an overview of the major provisions of the HEA; describes the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant program, the Federal Work-Study program, and the Federal Perkins Loan program; and describes the several other programs devoted to financially assisting minority-serving institutions under the HEA.