About a Quarter of U.S. Adults Consider Higher Ed Affordable
A new Gallup report shows that 60% of U.S. adults consider higher ed accessible, but only 27% say it is affordable.
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
How 3 Colleges Make Mobility a Reality
Three different colleges are recognized for making socioeconomic mobility a reality through bridge classes and programs, specialized resources and advisors.
The Barriers to Mobility
For generations, a college degree has been the way for Americans to climb the economic ladder, but with rising tuition costs and institution selectiveness, as well as other social and academic barriers, socioeconomic mobility has been hindered.
Some College and No Degree: How Individuals Who Attend and Don’t Graduate Feel About Education
Strada Education Network, in collaboration with Lumina Foundation and Gallup Research, released a report that says the most common reason for not completing a degree is the struggle of balancing both school and work.
Study Shows Higher Ed for Single Mothers Pays Dividends
A recent study from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research discusses the economic and social benefits single mothers receive when they have access to higher education.
Half in U.S. Now Consider College Education Very Important
Stephanie Marken presents findings from a recent Gallup poll that asked Americans about their views on the importance of a college education. These findings reveal that 51 percent of Americans believe a college education is very important, down from 70 percent in 2013.
Views About Value
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.
The odds are still stacked against low-income college students; here are some ways to expand the possibilities
In addition to support overcoming skills gaps and gaining access to internships and mentors, Aimee Eubanks-Davis argues that publicly available data on employment status and earnings by school and course of study could help more low-income students succeed in college.
Comparing The College Scorecard And PayScale’s College Salary Report: Four Key Differences
Key differences in the methodologies behind two alumni earnings databases used to compare earning of students who attended one college versus another – the Department of Education’s College Scorecard and PayScale’s College Salary Report – lead to significant variance in earning estimates.
STUDENT VOICE: How I learned to count college value over perceived status
A first-generation college student reflects on how she learned the importance of putting college value ahead of prestige and came to see community colleges as engines of social mobility.
OPINION: Out of necessity, I taught my son to choose a college for its value, not its prestige or vibe
As a former teacher, academic and policy analyst, Laura McKenna wanted her son to understand the financial realities of college and the importance of picking a school based on the value it provides.
Can We Fix How We Judge and Pay for College?
Jefferson Noël, a recent graduate of Florida International University, argues that students need access to more information about what colleges will do for them and how they will pay for it.
Value Commission in the News
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.
Everyone Wants to Measure the Value of College. Now the Gates Foundation Wants a Say.
The Postsecondary Value Commission launched with a goal to provide useful information to help colleges understand how and how well they are contributing to economic opportunity for students, aid policy makers in gauging returns on investment in higher education, and equip students and families to make decisions about higher education.
Gates Foundation Asks: Is College Worth It?
The three-pronged goal of the Postsecondary Value Commission is to develop a definition of the value of college, create a way to measure how individual colleges and universities create value for students and create a set of recommendations for policymakers, politicians, and higher education officials.