Brendan Williams

Currently VP of Knowledge @uAspire. We need to do better with college affordability, college access/success, and educational opportunity. Tweets are my own.

[uAspire @uAspire]

⚡ Supporting students and families with the new #FAFSA? Here's what you need to know now: https://t.co/UbyCGHruAw

[uAspire @uAspire]

"The greatest opportunity the FAFSA policy created is the idea that college is possible”

uAspire’s new brief identifies best practices to inform states seeking to increase FAFSA completion and adopt a universal policy. Explore the report: https://t.co/wplTqffKfH

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

via @NYTOpinion this is awesome! A simple and thoughtful approach to the significant amount of data available. https://t.co/rjmh43LCCr

[Michael Itzkowitz @mikeitzkowitz]

General observation: Those who scream the loudest that college isn’t for everybody usually send their kids to four-year colleges.

[National College Attainment Network (NCAN) @NCANetwork]

. @FAFSA announced today that the new #BetterFAFSA will be delayed until December 2023. Also included in the announcement:
➡️#PellGrant look up tables to be released in May
➡️New FAFSA preview available in July
➡️FAFSA estimator available early fall
https://t.co/PVvKHwxB7j

[uAspire @uAspire]

���The fact that we are reporting 8-year graduation data when colleges are advertising the programs as taking four years is outrageous,” said Brendan Williams, uAspire financial aid expert. “To think consumers understand this is asking a lot.” Read more: https://t.co/CFv2lnxhS2

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

I think three of the real accounts were mine when I was testing to see if we’d ever recommend a student use it.

[Melissa Korn @melissakorn]

🚨🚨NEW w/ @DaveCBenoit: JPMorgan Chase sues leadership team at Frank, the financial-aid startup it bought for $175M in 2021. Bank alleges the company fabricated lists showing it had 4M+ customers, when it really had just 300K.

https://t.co/lzJUfLt6E9 via @WSJ

[uAspire @uAspire]

Read our response with our partners at @moneythink to the recent GAO report on the lack of cost transparency in financial aid offers – echoing research we released more than 5 years ago. Urgent progress is needed, and students must be at the center. https://t.co/RcT4d22ygB

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

The price of college is a mess. It is hard to view this as anything but a marketing gimmick to differentiate themselves from the pack. Does the net cost actually change for anyone? We can look at the data in a couple of years and see. https://t.co/VNWqP0g55j

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

via @NYTimes 529 plans are great for some but when you start thinking about who the benefits go to it’s alarming. Another thing to think about is why qualified expenses for 529 plans are different than qualified expenses for scholarships. https://t.co/uEkejPGJjo

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

Are we sure providing net cost or net price is the key to understanding how much college will cost? Maybe we should consumer test the terms and calculations and see what is best for students and families. #collegecosts #financialaid #fafsa

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

@erichoov It is hard to do the math when so many don’t provide the cost of attendance. What does a $20,000 scholarship without the COA.

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

Echoing the work from @NewAmericaEd and @uAspire in Decoding the Cost of College (https://t.co/qgPGkmjFlp). It has been years, and the cost of college has gone up and still isn't being communicated clearly to students and families.

[U.S. GAO @USGAO]

Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid https://t.co/dAyfJvvhUg

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

Yes. I agree. “Federal law doesn't require colleges to include clear, standard information in all of their financial aid offers. Congress should consider mandating that colleges do so.” https://t.co/zRaYDYKHrP #financialaid #collegecosts

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

If all institutions followed @FAFSA list of what to include/avoid on financial aid offers (https://t.co/vb5iHPoflW) it would add much needed clarity to the cost of college for students and families. #financialaid #financialaidoffers

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

This article on PLUS loans in the WSJ (https://t.co/UT1n8ewmrF) has been a reality for so many students that I've worked with. There has to be a solution found - we can make college accessible without the tremendous mountain of debt. #financialaid #PLUSloans #studentloandebt

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

Some good recs in ATI’s recent brief ( https://t.co/3fvoEX3fXn ) on how to improve financial aid offers. Hard to believe it still needs repeating that financial aid offers should clearly tell students how much college will cost. #financialaid #decodingthecostofcollege

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

Why is the student aid index a dollar amount? #fafsa #financialaid

[Brendan Williams @MrFinancialAid]

If college is still unaffordable when you fill out the FAFSA, how will simplifying the FAFSA help? Students need more $$$ or lower cost college more than simpler forms. #fafsa #collegecostsaretoodamnhigh https://t.co/9N03I3aehT