COVID-19 and Online Education Decisions
Strada Education Network published a new study this week that found women are more likely than men to choose online education in light of COVID-19.
Concerns about the cost of college—and the debt students are taking on to finance their education—are pushing questions of value into the public spotlight. Explore recent headlines and various perspectives on the issue.
Value in the Headlines
Presidents' Growing Worry? Perceived Value of College
Inside Higher Ed has interviewed college and university presidents throughout the spring, and although many views have remained constant, they found institutions are increasingly worried about the perceived value of higher education.
Public Viewpoint: COVID-19 Work and Education Survey
Strada Education Network released the results from week nine of an ongoing survey of Americans that seeks to understand how the pandemic is impacting education and employment, with this installment focusing on the differential effect by race/ethnicity.
‘You have a degree, but who do you know?’ Why student debt is a racial-justice issue
This article from MarketWatch discusses racial disparities in student loan debt and the role of the racial wealth gap in contributing to these disparities.
Virus exposes sharp economic divide: College vs. non-college
The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately impacted workers without a college degree. For workers with only a high school diploma, the jobless rate was 15.3%. For college graduates, it was just 7.4%.
Despite May’s Slight Economic Rebound, Working Students Continue to Face Shattering Unemployment Numbers
In this article, The 74 Million presents and discusses recent unemployment data for workers at different levels of educational attainment and for working students, and disaggregates the data by race.
Views About Value
College students raising kids were in crisis before coronavirus. Lockdown made it worse.
This article from NBC News discusses the challenges that student parents face and how institutions can better support these students in attaining their degrees.
The pay-off for a prestigious college degree is smaller than you think
Based on data from National Center for Education Statistics, the authors argue that degrees from elite institutions may not provide as high an earnings premium as expected, and that college completion may be a more important factor.
Go Figure: Exploring Equity in Students’ Postsecondary Math Pathway Choices
This report from Just Equations examines student experiences within California community colleges and the California State University in navigating new math pathway strategies (e.g., corequisite courses, multiple measures for placement, and diversified math pathways) to understand their effectiveness in improving equity in math education outcomes.
Ignore the Hype. College Is Worth It
Postsecondary Value Commission member Anthony P. Carnevale writes that while changes to the way higher education institutions operate may be necessary, the value of a college degree in the workplace is without question and is supported by recent research.
Taxpayers Fund College Degrees That Don’t Pay Off
The Texas Public Policy Foundation created a tool to determine if colleges and programs have justified earnings in comparison to student debt. This tool found that just 73% of students at public colleges are enrolled in programs that pass this test.
Value Commission in the News
As the pandemic upends higher education, is residential college worth the cost?
As the pandemic upends the traditional model of higher education, particularly for residential colleges, some students and parents are questioning whether the cost is worth it. Postsecondary Value Commission Managing Director Michelle Asha Cooper and other higher education leaders weigh in on new efforts to rethink the value, and the cost, of traditional college in the coronavirus era.
Many Young People Think a High School Diploma Is Enough, Poll Finds
Two recent polls found that young Americans don’t see a college degree as critical to career success and nearly half of young people ages 13 to 29 surveyed said a high school diploma alone is sufficient. Postsecondary Value Commission Managing Director Michelle Asha Cooper notes that with increasing concerns about affordability and student debt, the commission aims to define how various kinds of postsecondary education pay off to help students and families evaluate their choices
What is the value of a college education? Gates Foundation group meets at Cal State Fullerton to form an answer
The Postsecondary Value Commission held its second of four meetings at California State University, Fullerton, where the commission heard from local students, alumni and employers. CSUF, where commission member Mildred Garcia previously served as president, has seen important gains in the past decade including rising graduation rates and shrinking achievement and opportunity gaps for transfer students. Note: This story may require a subscription to view.
Is College Worth the Cost?
For most students, a bachelor’s degree is a wise financial investment, but weighing the costs against the expected labor market outcomes is a worthwhile exercise. Postsecondary Value Commission members Anthony Carnevale and Luis Talavera share their insights and a good resource for prospective college students in this article.
Five myths about student debt
Some of the most common misconceptions about debt include the idea that students can pay their way through college by working and that a college degree isn’t worth the debt.