Higher One Opens Application Period for National Financial Literacy Counts Grant Program

NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Higher One, a leading provider of financial services and data analytics to more than 1,900 colleges and universities across the U.S., has opened the application process for its annual Financial Literacy Counts Grant Program, which supports campus-based financial literacy education programs and initiatives.

The key to an effective financial literacy program is engagement—Financial Literacy Counts promotes collaboration between college administrators and students to develop relevant financial education programs that help students establish a strong financial foundation. The grant is part of Higher One's larger financial literacy initiative, $tart with Change. Dedicated to helping students improve their money management skills, $tart with Change supports Higher One's mission of improving financial literacy among college students by providing needed resources and promoting effective initiatives on campuses.

Selected institutions will receive grants between $2,000 and $5,000 to support student awareness campaigns, workshops, peer-mentoring programs, online financial literacy tools or other innovative activities that provide opportunities for students to increase their personal financial management skills and abilities.

Last year, Higher One distributed a total of $75,000 to colleges and universities in the program's fourth year, which saw a record number of more than 125 applications representing 34 states and an array of four- and two-year public and private institutions.

"Higher One is committed to developing real-world and student-focused money management programs and activities. Our Financial Literacy Counts grant program helps institutions create and implement much needed curricula and programs," said Mary Johnson, vice president of financial literacy and student aid policy at Higher One. "As student loan debt continues to increase, it is imperative that students know the impact their financial decisions can have later in life—and research shows a need for effective on-campus financial literacy education opportunities."

The third-year results of Money Matters on Campus, a survey of 43,000 college students across the U.S., found that students are taking out more and larger student loans, yet report feeling less prepared to manage their money than any other aspect of college life. Further, Money Matters found that campus-based financial literacy education programs should use innovative approaches to address attitudinal, behavioral and demographic differences among students.

The grant proposal submission deadline is May 30, 2015, and any accredited, non-profit college or university in the U.S. is eligible to apply. Visit the official site for more details.

About Higher One

Higher One ONE partners with colleges and universities to lower their administrative costs and to improve graduation rates. We provide a broad array of payment, refund disbursement and data analytics and management tools to institutions that help them save money and enhance institutional effectiveness. And for students, we offer financial literacy programs and convenient, flexible and affordable transaction options to help them manage their finances. Higher One's products and services support more than 1,900 schools and approximately 13 million enrolled students. More information about Higher One can be found at www.higherone.com.