“Follow the Money” Qualitative Evidence on Financial Literacy and College Choice [PAPER]

This project reflects the Laidlaw mission by pairing rigorous research with a commitment to social impact, asking how institutions can design culturally relevant, practical programs that empower students to navigate financial systems with confidence.
Go to the profile of Terrah Garner
Terrah Garner
Undergraduate Leadership & Research Scholar, Barnard College
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Go to the profile of Terrah Garner
Terrah Garner (She/Her)
Undergraduate Leadership & Research Scholar, Barnard College

Hi everyone, my name is Terrah — or Danae if you know me from Danalize, my startup, where I’ve helped over 500,000 college and high school students get smart about their college loans and promote financial literacy.

I’m a junior at Barnard College, Columbia University, double majoring in sociology and human rights on the pre-law track. I'm also a part of the 2025 Laidlaw scholar cohort. My mission is to help others through my experience as a first-generation, low-income student from an underserved high school. This passion, combined with the disparities I’ve seen in financial literacy—especially in communities of color—has inspired my current research on the relationship between financial literacy and higher educational attainment.

Feel free to connect as we grow together, not just as scholars, but as passionate advocates for change.

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