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.
This report from Third Way introduces a new classification system that measures ROI by comparing a college’s net tuition price to a student’s ability to repay their loan. This analysis can be used as a tool to develop better policies to protect students from high-price, low-quality institutions.
The latest installment of Strada Center for Education Insights' Public Viewpoint found that among survey respondents without degrees, skepticism about the value of a college degree increased from Spring 2020 to Fall 2020. The survey also found that students at community colleges were more likely than students at 4-year institutions to agree that their education would be worth the cost.
Third Way and New America released a memo discussing pandemic impacts on student perspectives and found that 80% are worried about finding a job after graduation.
A report from Ithaka S+R found that individuals with higher educational attainment pay more in state taxes and rely less on Medicaid and welfare programs, making the case for increasing investment in college access, financial aid, and academic supports as well as investing in high-demand fields and educational programs.
The most recent installment of Strada Education Network’s COVID-19 Work and Education Survey focuses on current students’ perceptions of the value of higher education and found only 50 percent of current students saying they “strongly agree” or “agree” that their education will be worth the cost.
This article from NBC News discusses the challenges that student parents face and how institutions can better support these students in attaining their degrees.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.