A Forum on Immigration Policy and the Future of Public Education
October 7, 2025
11:30 a.m.-1:00 pm
The Fall 2025 Forum from The Forum on the Future of Public Education will highlight immigration and education policy in the U.S., as well as how the changing federal landscape has shaped K-12 higher education policy in Illinois.
University of Illinois Foundation | Philanthropy Center
303 St. Mary's Road, Champaign
Parking available in the SE lot of State Farm Center via the Fourth Street entrance.
Keynote Speaker
Sophia Rodriguez, New York University, Sociologist of Education
University Speakers
Gioconda Guerra Pérez, Interim Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Designee
Gabriel Rodriguez, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Assistant Professor, Education Policy, Organization and Leadership
Mirelsie Velázquez, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Associate Professor, Latina/Latino Studies & Education Policy, Organization and Leadership
RSVP by September 26! |
Student Loan Nudges: Experimental Evidence on Borrowing and Educational Attainment
Speaker Information:
Benjamin Marx
Student Loan Nudges: Experimental Evidence on Borrowing and Educational Attainment
Benjamin M. Marx
Assistant Professor, UIUC Economics Department
We experimentally test the impact of student loan “nudges” on community college students' borrowing decisions and subsequent educational attainment. We find that students are biased towards borrowing the amount listed in their financial aid award letters, even though this amount does not affect students’ choice sets. Students randomly assigned to receive a nonzero loan offer were 40 percent more likely to borrow than those who received a $0 loan offer. Neither fall nor spring enrollment was affected by loan offers, but students induced to borrow by a nonzero offer earned significantly more credits and higher GPAs. An additional $1000 in loans led to 0.9 additional credits earned and a 0.16 GPA increase in the first year. Given that nearly one quarter of U.S. college students are offered $0 in loan aid, our results indicate the potential to achieve large gains in educational attainment by reforming the choice architecture around borrowing.
Cost:
free
Contact:
Jennifer Delaney
Sponsor:
Higher Education Collaborative