Hidden Inequality: Financial Aid Information Available to College Students with Disabilities Attending Public Four-Year Institutions

Abstract

College students with disabilities often encounter systems and processes that do not serve them well. Financial aid, structured in ways that can be particularly burdensome to students with disabilities, is one such system. This study used web-based content analysis of the largest public four-year institution in each state to explore how institutions explain and provide information and resources related to financial aid and whether they are equitable, consistent, and useful for students with disabilities specifically. The findings suggest that available information most often does not assist students in understanding how their disability-related needs can be supported or hindered by financial aid policies. The authors offer recommendations for practices that can improve equitable access to financial aid information.