The influence of price subsidies on within-year persistence by graduate students

The 1987 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study was used to compare four alternative approaches for assessing the influence of price subsidies on within-year persistence by graduate students. The conclusions drawn from the research include: 1) tuition charges has a substantial negative influence on persistence; and 2) comprehensive packages-grants, loans, plus assistantships-were the most effective means of subsidizing graduate student costs.