The Urban Institute has released a report that suggests that the proposed overhaul of Mississippi’s financial aid programs would be complicated. It is unlikely to fix existing problems and could cause problems for students with low income. Instead of seeking the Mississippi One Grant, it is recommended that the state consolidate its college assistance programs into two simple grants. One program provides low-income students need-based aid and the other awards students based on their grades or test scores. The report states that the state will always have to make compromises between budget control and providing support for students. “But designing programs that enable students who can’t afford college on their behalf is the best strategy to ensure a high return state’s investment is the most promising strategy.” The One Grant won’t help more students obtain degrees because it will reduce the funding available for students with low incomes in Mississippi, which is the poorest state in America. Sandy Baum, one the report’s authors, stated that taking money from students who are really dependent on it doesn’t seem like a good way to balance the budget. She also said that it was very shortsighted. Kristin Blagg, Baum’s co-author, has studied the state aid programs in New Jersey and Texas. Baum and Blagg reviewed annual reports from Mississippi’s Office of Student Financial Aid. They also looked at research on state aid and college accessibility and spoke with Get2College. In recent years, the three Mississippi college financial aid programs have been under scrutiny. Get2College and other advocates for Mississippi college access claim that the state’s programs are no longer serving their original purpose which is to assist low-income students to afford college. The Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board oversees Mississippi’s financial assistance programs and is most concerned about rising costs. The cost of state financial aid programs has increased with rising college tuition costs in Mississippi. In particular, the Higher Education Legislative Exchange grant for needy students pays for all four years for low-income students. Since 2019, the board has been exploring ways to reduce the cost of its programs. The board’s most recent proposal was the One Grant. It was unveiled in October 2018. The One Grant would allow the state to award aid based upon a student’s academic merit and financial need. The lowest award, $4,500, would be given to students with low ACT scores. This award is considerably less than the HELP grant that many low-income students receive. READ MORE: What amount of financial aid can you expect to receive under the Mississippi One Grant program? The One Grant would see low-income students lose thousands of dollars in financial assistance, but more wealthy students will receive money. This means that while black students would see a loss of money on average, white students would see a rise in their income. Baum stated that every state is different and has different goals, demographics, and circumstances. Baum stated that every state has different demographics, different circumstances, and different goals. Baum stated that she would urge Mississippi policymakers to look at how the One Grant causes “this problem of trying not to kill two birds with one egg.” “That’s not something specific to Mississippi.” Mississippi’s eight public universities have been steadily increasing tuition, making college increasingly expensive for most families. But lawmakers and members the Post-Secondary Board are looking for ways to limit the number students who can be eligible for financial aid for college in Mississippi. State Senator Briggs Hopson (R-Vicksburg) proposed a bill to raise the ACT scores needed for financial aid through the MTAG or MESG programs. His requirements for MTAG (17) and MESG (30) are higher than the minimum ACT score required for most students to be admitted to Mississippi’s public universities. According to the report, it is counterproductive that Mississippi’s ACT requirements for state aid are higher than those required to gain admission to public universities. Baum stated that you don’t need to believe that everyone should go to college immediately after high school. However, it is important to recognize that if you are going to admit students and enroll them in college, you must do all you can to make sure they succeed. Baum said that students need both academic and financial support. As a proposal, the One Grant has failed. The One Grant was not introduced in a bill this session. The Post-Secondary Board has begun to explore ways to involve lawmakers in discussions about state financial assistance programs this summer. Baum and Blagg are hopeful that the board will take the proposal into consideration when they consider retooling state aid. According to their report, Mississippi should look at programs with the same deadline and minimal application materials. They also recommend that Mississippi provide financial aid for part-time students and adults. Blagg stated that the board should think clearly about how to separate out where the aid for merit and where the financial aid should go. Editor’s Note: Get2College, a program of Woodward Hines Education Foundation and a Mississippi Today donor, is available.