Policy proposals to cut federal work‑study funding have surfaced amid broader federal budget pressure, threatening a program that subsidizes campus jobs for nearly 700,000 students. Education advocates warn that scaling back work‑study would push more students toward higher‑cost borrowing or off‑campus work with worse academic outcomes. At the same time, an Inside Higher Ed deep dive highlights that many students underestimate the total cost of attendance: mandatory fees, housing, technology and unexpected expenses can derail enrollment and completion. Colleges now face pressure to improve COA transparency, expand emergency aid, and rethink work‑study as a critical component of student success strategies.