Higher education institutions are in crisis mode because their current and prospective students are in even crisis: College is increasingly unaffordable for many students. A report by the National Center for Education Statistics found that three-quarters of Americans surveyed felt that college was not affordable for all people.

The financial aid process is confusing and frustrating, due to a patchwork of funding solutions and paperwork requirements. In most areas of students' lives, technology empowers, rather than obstructs. The college admissions and financial aid process, however, can feel like a bureaucratic morass. They must decipher the FAFSA form, apply it to their family's unique circumstances, and determine if their "expected family contribution" (EFC) will stop them from attending the institution of their choice-or attain a higher education at all.

For financial aid staff, manual processes, regulatory demands, and siloed systems make a tough job even more challenging. They spend far more time on paperwork than advising students - many of whom have complex financial situations - navigate their financial aid needs.

This all leads to one big question: What can financial aid officers do differently to make the financial aid process more effective for students of all backgrounds, to help them achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals? With the right tools, it turns out they can do a lot.
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