What is the 1965 Higher Education Act?

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) helps postsecondary students and strengthens U.S. schools and universities. The HEA expanded government funding for postsecondary schools, created scholarship programs, offered low-interest loans, and established the National Teachers Corps. On November 8, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the legislation that Congress had reauthorized several times.

Congress has failed to reauthorize the legislation since 2013. Since then, it has been on temporary extensions, with classic programs like Pell Grants and Stafford loans still available.

Understanding the 1965 Higher Education Act

President Johnson supported the Higher Education Act to improve educational possibilities for low- and middle-income children, local colleges, and university libraries.

On its 50th anniversary in 2015, the National Education Association (NEA) praised the program for making college accessible for “millions of smart, low- and middle-income Americans by establishing need-based grants, work-study opportunities, and federal student loans.”

It also created TRIO, which supports educational programs for low-income and disadvantaged middle school through graduate school students.

HEA titles

Titles of the Act:

• Title I funds extension and continuing education programs.
• Title II: Authorizes funding for teacher recruitment, education, and training.
• Title III includes steps to improve emerging institutions.
• Title IV: Offers scholarships, low-interest loans, and work-study programs for students.
• Title V aims to enhance teaching quality.
• Title VI aims to enhance undergraduate education.
• Title VII covers graduate education programs and postsecondary education innovation.
• Title VIII covers several postsecondary and graduate education areas.

Several reauthorizations and amendments have added additional proposals to the Higher Education Act of 1965.

What HEA Offers

U.S. postsecondary students had several financial assistance choices under the HEA. This act established Pell Grants and Stafford Loans.

Aid

The federal government provides Pell Grants to undergraduates without repayment. The award amount depends on financial need, school costs, and full-time or part-time attendance. The grant program reauthorization law limits beneficiary funding.

Loans

Financially disadvantaged students can get Stafford loans, either subsidized or unsubsidized.

Directly subsidized loans

Direct subsidized loans for undergraduate students with financial needs are based on school prices.

While enrolled at least halfway in college, the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on such loans. They receive six months of interest coverage after graduating.

Unsubsidized direct loans

Direct, unsubsidized loans are accessible to graduate and undergraduate students without financial need. The college or institution will determine the loan size based on other financial aid.

Direct, unsubsidized loan borrowers must return all interest.

Students who attended institutions that participated in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program could apply for subsidized or unsubsidized federal Stafford Loans, which no longer exist.

That program hasn’t provided loans since July 1, 2010. However, many institutions and people still use “Stafford Loans” and “Direct Stafford Loans” to refer to William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

On June 30, 2023, President Biden proposed a new income-driven repayment (IDR) scheme after the Supreme Court blocked his student loan forgiveness proposal. SAVE gives student loan debtors financial advantages. Three key elements will premiere in the summer of 2023, and the complete rules will take effect on July 1, 2024. For additional information on SAVE, see the Department of Education’s fact sheet.

HEA Reauthorization Attempts

The HEA was reauthorized every five years from 1965 to 2008, often with revisions. Since 2013, its programs have operated on interim renewals without official reauthorization.

Current HEA Status

The HEA ended in 2013, but its programs continued as Congress considered modifications.

The 2020 COVID-19 epidemic halted Senate deliberations on reauthorizing and updating the HEA and other issues.

Student assistance application simplification and Pell Grant expansion are currently being considered.

What Did the HEA Do for Postsecondary Education?

The National Education Association called the HEA “the cornerstone of college affordability” for Americans. Pell Grants help 34% of college students pay for school. More than 44 million Americans hold federal student debt.

What is HEA Title IV?

Title IV provides scholarships, low-interest loans, and work-study for qualifying college and university students. Stafford Loans and Pell Grants are its most famous programs.

Higher education refers to what kind of school?

Higher education is studying beyond high school to get a degree, diploma, or certificate. This concept includes college, university, professional, and technical school studies.

A Title I School?

The Higher Education Act defines a Title 1 school as a postsecondary institution approved to receive direct government aid to improve its libraries or programs or to enroll HEA-subsidized students.

This is not Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The federal Title 1 program complements state and local financing for public schools in economically disadvantaged regions.

The Verdict

The 1965 Higher Education Act did not exist or seem relevant to today’s pupils. However, the essential idea of making college accessible to low-income Americans has helped generations of American students.

Conclusion

• Since 2013, the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) has operated on interim renewals without Congressional approval.
• Subsidized grants and loans are available to qualifying college students from the HEA.
• HEA initiatives include Pell Grants and Stafford Loans.
• The HEA directly finances college continuing education, school libraries, and teaching materials.