NCER- NPSAS Grant Study – Connecting Students with Financial Aid (CSFA) 2017 Cognitive Testing

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

Attachments VI
Survey to be Cognitively Tested

NCER- NPSAS Grant Study – Connecting Students with
Financial Aid (CSFA) 2017 Cognitive Testing

OMB# 1850-0803 v.191

February 2017

Attachment VI – Survey
Follow-up Survey – Survey Instrument
PAGE 1
<>
You are being contacted because you agreed to participate in an external research project when you
responded to the 2015-16 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:16). For more information go
to: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/npsas/grant/ .
 Yes, Continue on the Survey
 NO
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the National Postsecondary Student Aid
Study (NPSAS) and its follow up studies, including the Connecting Students with Financial Aid (CSFA) 2017 study, by
the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C., § 9543), and to collect as part of these studies,
under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3) and 99.35), students’ education
records from educational agencies or institutions in connection with an evaluation of federally supported education
programs. Data collected from or about individual students are used only for statistical or research purposes and
may not be disclosed or used, in identifiable form, for any other purpose except as required by law (ESRA 2002, 20
U.S.C., § 9573). These data are being collected for NCES by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization based
in North Carolina.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information
collection is 1850-XXXX. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average
approximately 10 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, gather the data needed, and
complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time
estimate, suggestions for improving this survey, or any comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual
submission of this survey, please write directly to: The Connecting Students with Financial Aid (CSFA) Study, National
Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Potomac Center Plaza, 550 12th St., SW, PCP-4007, Washington, DC 20202.

PAGE 2
<>
Did you apply for financial aid
from the government to help
you with college expenses for
the 2017-18 school year (i.e.,
this year)?
Did you apply for financial aid
from anyone else (a nongovernment source) to help you
with college expenses for the
2017-18 school year?
If you have ever applied for
government financial aid, how
did you learn about the process
of applying?
Check all that apply.

 No, I did not apply for financial aid from the government
 Yes, I applied for financial aid using the following (check all that
apply)
 FAFSA (federal financial aid application)
 State financial aid application
 No, I did not apply for financial aid from a non-government source
 Yes, I applied for financial aid using the following (check all that
apply)
 CSS/Financial Aid Profile
 Aid application for my school
 Aid application for another organization
 Friend
 Relative
 Communication or mailing from my school
 College Faculty or Staff member
 Community Organization
 Online website
 Financial advisor
 I do not know how to apply for financial aid

PAGE 3A
<>
Please choose the statements
 I’ve applied for financial aid before, but did not receive anything
that apply to you:
 I did not realize that I had to submit a financial aid application each
year
 It was too late to apply for financial aid when I decided to do so
 It was too much hassle given that I am not eligible for much aid
 I decided not to enroll during this school year
 I don’t think I am eligible for financial aid (check why below):
 Because my family income is too high to receive financial aid
 Because I don’t have good grades
 Because I’m not enrolled full time
 Because I’m not a US Citizen
Do you know what the FAFSA
 No, I am not sure what the FAFSA is
is?
 Yes, I know what the FAFSA is, but I don’t know how to complete
the form
 Yes, I know what the FAFSA is and have completed it before

PAGE 3B
<>
We’re interested in your
 Parents
experiences with applying for
 Other Relative
Financial Aid. Did you receive  Friend
assistance from another person  My college’s financial aid or other staff
to complete the FAFSA the last  Community Organization
time you did so? If yes, please  Live counselor via phone or online
 Other
indicate from whom.
 I did not receive help from someone else
Check all that apply.
Please tell us how you
submitted your financial aid
form?
Check all that apply.








I submitted the FAFSA online
I submitted the paper FAFSA
I was asked to fix an error or problem with my FAFSA after I initially
submitted the form
I used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to complete my FAFSA.
I was asked to submit more information for “Verification” by my
school
My school also required me to complete the another application to
apply for financial aid (e.g., the CSS Profile)

We’re also interested to know your opinions about the financial aid process. Please select one response to
each statement.
Strongly
Disagree
Neither Agree
Agree
Strongly
o I clearly understood the steps to get
Disagree
or
Disagree
Agree
financial aid for college this year.
Strongly
Disagree
Neither Agree
Agree
Strongly
o I was able to complete the FAFSA myself
Disagree
or
Disagree
Agree
easily
Agree
Strongly
o My financial aid award letter was easy to Strongly Disagree Neither Agree
Disagree
or
Disagree
Agree
understand
Strongly
Disagree
Neither Agree
Agree
Strongly
o My school’s financial aid office was
Disagree
or Disagree
Agree
available to help me understand my
financial aid offer
Strongly
Disagree
Neither Agree
Agree
Strongly
o I know where to go if I have questions
Disagree
or
Disagree
Agree
about my financial aid forms
Strongly
Disagree
Neither Agree
Agree
Strongly
o I lost money by not completing the
Disagree
or Disagree
Agree
FAFSA this year
PAGE 4
How many credits are you
taking this term (Fall 2017)?
If you are unsure about the
number of credits, assume each
course is usually 3 credits.








Are you taking more, fewer, or 
the same credits as the last time 
you enrolled in college courses? 

No Credits (I am not enrolled)
Less than 6 credits
6 credits (two 3-credit courses)
7 to 9 credits (approximately 2-3 courses)
10 to 11 credits
12 to 14 credits (full-time enrollment; approx. 4 or more courses)
15 credits or more (full-time enrollment; approx. 4-6 courses)
Increased – I’m taking more credits (or courses) this term
Decreased – I’m taking fewer credits this term
No change – I’m taking the same number of credits

PAGE 5A
<>
Why are you taking fewer than  I do not need additional courses for my degree
12 credits?
 The courses I need to take are not being offered or did not have
space for me (i.e., limited enrollment)
Check all that apply.
 I have other work or personal commitments
 I cannot afford to pay for more courses
 Other reason
If your financial aid had been
 Yes
doubled, not including loans,
 No
would you have taken more
credits or courses?
How many credits do you plan
 No credits (do not plan to enroll)
to take the next term?
 Less than 6 credits
 6 to 8 credits (approximately two courses)
If you are unsure about the
number of credits, assume each  9 to 11 credits (approximately 3 courses)
 12 to 14 credits (approximately 4 courses; full-time enrollment)
course is usually 3 credits.
 15 credits or more (approximately 4-6 courses; full-time enrollment)
PAGE 5B
<>
What made you decide to take  I need the courses to complete my degree.
12 or more credits this term?
 I received enough financial aid to make full-time enrollment possible.
Check all that apply.
 I am trying to complete my degree as quickly as possible.
 Other reason
How many credits do you plan
 No credits (do not plan to enroll)
to take the next term?
 Less than 6 credits
 6 to 8 credits (approximately two courses)
If you are unsure about the
number of credits, assume each  9 to 11 credits (approximately 3 courses)
 12 to 14 credits (approximately 4 courses; full-time enrollment)
course is usually 3 credits.
 15 credits or more (approximately 4-6 courses; full-time enrollment)

PAGE 6
<>
We’re also interested to know how financial aid affects your decisions about college. Please select one
response to each statement.
Agree
Strongly
o I’m attending my current school because Strongly Disagree Neither Agree
Disagree
or
Disagree
Agree
of the financial aid they were able to give
me
Agree
Strongly
o I’m attending my current school because Strongly Disagree Neither Agree
Disagree
or
Disagree
Agree
the available financial aid did not allow
me to attend my 1st-choice school
Strongly
Disagree
Neither Agree
Agree
Strongly
o After I learned about my financial aid
Disagree
or Disagree
Agree
award, I decided to take more college
credits than I was originally planning
Agree
Strongly
o I am only able to attend college by taking Strongly Disagree Neither Agree
Disagree
or Disagree
Agree
out loans
Have you taken out loans to pay o
for college? If so, what kinds of o
loans?
o
o
o

Federal Student Loan (e.g., Stafford Loan, Direct Loan, etc.)
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
Loan from a Bank
Loan from a relative or friend
Other Source

PAGE 7A
<>
How did you decide whether to  Talked to my Parents or Other Relative
take out a loan?
 Talked to a Friend
 Talked to college’s financial aid staff
 Got help from a Community Organization
 Using an online resource to consider my options
 Other
 I did not receive help from someone else
We’re interested to know what you think about your loans. Please select one response to each statement.

o When I took out my loans, I understood

Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

o When I took out my loans, I was

Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

what the repayment plan would be

confident that I would be able to repay
them
o My college helped me determine the
right amount of loans I needed to take
o I am concerned about how I will repay
my loans
o I have stopped taking college classes
because of my student loan debt

PAGE 7B
<>
How did you decide to avoid
 Talked to my Parents or Other Relative
taking out a loan?
 Talked to a Friend
 Talked to college’s financial aid staff
 Got help from a Community Organization
 Using an online resource to consider my options
 Other
 I did not receive help from someone else
We’re interested to know what you think about college student loans. Please select one response to each
statement.
Strongly
Disagree
Neither Agree
Agree
Strongly
o I worry about being able to repay a loan

o I have other debt I am managing (e.g.,

credits cards, car loan, mortgage)
o I found it confusing to understand my
student loan options
o I received enough financial aid to be able
to avoid taking out loans
o I had trouble trying to get a loan and was
unable to do so

Disagree
Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

or Disagree
Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Agree
Strongly
Agree

Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree
or Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree