Millions of students and adult learners who aspire to college are overwhelmed by the complexity of student aid. Uncertainty and confusion rob them of its significant benefits. Rather than promote access, student aid often creates a series of barriers--a gauntlet that the poorest students must run to get to college. Replacing complexity with a steady stream of encouragement that makes access to college simple and certain is a top priority of Congress and the higher education community. Congress mandated this simplification study as part of the current reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in order to identify and eradicate major sources of complexity in student aid. This study found that sweeping and cost effective simplification initiative could significantly improve access and increase the return on the nation's already sizable investment in student aid. To dismantle this gauntlet, four imperatives have emerged: (1) empower students to make sound decisions about higher