The study also examined 3-year persistence rates for full-time beginning students with a Pell Grant in light of other types of financial assistance received, in particular loan aid and assistance from parents. Among full-time Pell Grant recipients enrolled at private institutions (both not-for-profit 4-year and for-profit less-than-4-year institutions), those who received loan aid during their first year of enrollment were more likely than those who did not receive any loans to remain enrolled at an institution of the same level or higher. No such differences in persistence were detected among Pell Grant recipients enrolled at public 2-year or public 4-year institutions.

Finally, Pell Grant recipients were examined with respect to the relationship between persistence and financial support from parents.¹ Unlike the results found for loan aid, no differences in persistence were observed between Pell Grant recipients who reported receiving financial support from their parents and those who did not.