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Does Merit-Based Aid Improve College Affordability? Testing The Bennett Hypothesis In The Era Of Merit-Based Aid, Jungmin Lee

Journal of Student Financial Aid

This study tested the Bennett hypothesis by examining whether four-year colleges changed listed tuition and fees, the amount of institutional grants per student, and room and board charges after their states implemented statewide merit-based aid programs. According to the Bennett hypothesis, increases in government financial aid make it easier for colleges to raise their tuition. Because many statewide merit-based aid programs covered full tuition and fees for students enrolled in their state colleges, I hypothesized that colleges in states that implemented merit-based aid programs would raise student charges or reduce institutional aid for more revenue. Using the difference-in-differences method, I …