The Pell Institute

The Pell Institute

The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, the research arm of the Council for Opportunity in Education, conducts and disseminates research and policy analysis to encourage policymakers, educators, and the public to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities.

two powerful days of discussion, discovery, and networking

The Pell Institute invites you to the premier national conference focused exclusively on student financial aid research and policy—where data meets action and research drives reform.

The 42nd Student Financial Aid Research Network (SFARN) Conference will take place July 10-11, 2025, at the University of Maryland, College Park. At a critical time when education and research are under serious attack, SFARN provides a vital space for researchers, policymakers, and advocates to unite, share insights, and advance research that protects equitable access to education. We invite proposals on pressing issues such as federal and state policy changes, college food insecurity, student loan debt, access for low-income and non-traditional students, updates on the “Better FAFSA,” and Pell restoration for incarcerated individuals. Join us in shaping the future of student aid research and policy.

  • Tentative Agenda: Confirmed speakers and panelists hail from RTI International, IHEP, EdTrust, Lumina Foundation, CCRC, CLASP, and more. See the latest agenda here.
REGISTER HERE
What to Expect

🎓 Insightful panels on key federal and non-federal data sources 📊 Timely research presentations on racial wealth disparities, college affordability, FAFSA completion, and food insecurity 📈 Forward-looking discussions on the future of data infrastructure and the role of philanthropy in simplifying financial aid ⚽ A new spotlight on college athletics and its impact on student aid 🍽️ Networking receptions and meals included
Terrance L. Hamm

Vanishing Data, Vanishing Opportunity: What the Collapse of Key Federal Studies Means for the Future of Higher Education 

May 7, 2025

In a quiet but deeply consequential move in March, the U.S. Department of Education abruptly cancelled major research contracts and laid off dozens of staff and contractors, effectively silencing critical data collection on college affordability, student success, and outcomes after graduation.   While the federally mandated Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) remains partially intact,…
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Research Report

Is College Worth It?: Black, Latinx, and Indigenous Student Voices on the Value of Postsecondary Credentials

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Latest report

Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States 2024: 50-Year Historical Trend Report

This 2024 edition is the 9th in the current series, begun in 2015. This publication brings together again in partnership the Pell Institute with the Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy of the University of Pennsylvania (PennAHEAD). Both organizations have a core mission to promote a more open, equitable, and democratic system of higher education. The Pell Institute, with its historical and ongoing ties to the federal TRIO programs, has a special mission to promote more opportunity for low-income and first-generation students, and students with disabilities.

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Nicole Brunt

Understanding Potential First-Generation College Students 

July 26, 2024

In today’s rapidly changing educational landscape, first-generation (FG) college students remain a significant and important demographic. Despite rising educational attainment over the past 50 years, more than half of college students are still first-generation. Recently, the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education (“Pell Institute”) took a deeper dive into exploring who…
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Tom Mortenson

The Meltdown of Higher Education: A Detailed Analysis

July 23, 2024

Education has long been recognized as a crucial investment in our nation’s future. Since World War II, the United States’ economic growth has been propelled by the increased productivity and numbers of college-educated workers. However, this trend has reversed since 2011, leading to significant and concerning consequences for higher education and our broader economy.
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The Pell Institute is the first research institute to specifically examine the issues affecting educational opportunity for low-income, first-generation, and disabled college students. Learn more about the Pell Institute, including our mission, purpose, goals, and history.

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Discover cutting-edge research findings and participate in engaging discussions on topics ranging from access and affordability to student success and retention.