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.
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.
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.
The Postsecondary Value Commission intends to create a way of defining and measuring the return on investment that postsecondary education or training delivers.
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.
A new study confirms that earning a bachelor's degree is a sound financial investment, even as the cost of college increases
While adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher are still more likely to be on solid financial footing, increased competition in the workforce and overwhelming student debt have spurred a feeling among many graduates that their degree wasn’t worth the time, effort or money.
A new study from the University of Colorado Denver estimates the economic value of education for better health and longevity. The findings show reduced disability and longer lives among more educated people are worth up to twice as much as the value of education for lifetime earnings.
A new survey shows that a majority of adults feel that college was worth the debt they took on to finance it, but nearly half express doubts about the returns on their investment, given the impact on their ability to buy a home or start a family.
Most college leaders think institutions should be held more accountable for student outcomes, according to a new report by Third Way and Global Strategy Group based on a survey of 211 college administrators.
The reasoning behind why individuals go to college hasn’t changed over the years, but has the value? The American Council on Education evaluates the return on investment on higher education.
Among 18- to 34-year-olds, 59 percent believe four-year postsecondary schools are worth the cost, according to research from American Public Media’s APM Research Lab and The Hechinger Report.
Economist Brad J. Hershbein discusses the value of education, opportunity gaps, and social mobility for college graduates.
Education after high school is becoming a necessity. Here’s a view on why that matters most for students who think – or have been told – college or training isn’t for them.
Despite claims from some that “college isn’t for everyone,” it literally still pays to go to college, especially for diverse population groups. And there are equity issues with the notion that higher education is only right for some.
Liberal arts graduates enjoy high job placement rates and have the foundational learning tools to innovate, adapt, and advance in the workforce.
Mobility report cards embody a new college success metric and illustrate that many postsecondary institutions are providing a pathway to prosperity for low-income students.
A shift in focus to program-level outcomes in postsecondary education could allow the U.S. to move beyond completion as the gold standard for college success rates.