A Study of Undergraduate Persistence by Unmet Need and Percentage of Gift Aid

Abstract
This study examines how undergraduate fall-to-fall persistence is related to unmet financial need and amount of gift aid. Unmet need has been calculated two different ways: (1) total unmet need and (2) unmet need with parental, unsubsidized, and private loans removed. For students who received varying amounts of gift aid, persistence is studied as it relates to the percent of the total aid package that is gift aid. Five years of student persistence and financial aid information are examined.