Category: College Affordability

2026, admissions, Advising, College Access, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Research/Policy, Retention, ROI/College Outcomes, Student Success, Workforce

Beyond the Earnings Premium: What Provosts/CAOs Need to Know About the New ROI Agenda in Higher Education

The ROI of Higher Education explores the evolving value of college degrees amid rising costs and skepticism. It emphasizes the necessity for institutions to demonstrate educational attainment’s impact on economic and social outcomes. Leaders must prioritize student completion, integrate experiential learning, and align curricula with workforce needs to maintain relevance and value in higher education. Continue reading Beyond the Earnings Premium: What Provosts/CAOs Need to Know About the New ROI Agenda in Higher Education

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2026, College Access, College Affordability, Research/Policy, Student Success

Things That Sound Too Good to Be True (They Are)

Watson Scott Swail examines the limitations of large charitable donations, like MacKenzie Scott’s $42 million gift to 10,000 Degrees, aiming to improve college access. While these initiatives provide immediate benefits to some students, their scale and duration are insufficient to effect nationwide change. Sustainable public funding and early interventions are crucial for lasting impact. Continue reading Things That Sound Too Good to Be True (They Are)

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2026, College Affordability, ROI/College Outcomes

Putting College Costs in Perspective: A Brief History in Time (and CPI)

by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist I grew up at a special, prosperous time in history. Born in the early 60s, I didn’t have the burden of living through a world war. In fact, we didn’t think of war much in my youth. Raised in Canada, Vietnam wasn’t our issue. We read about it. But because it wasn’t us, it mattered … Continue reading Putting College Costs in Perspective: A Brief History in Time (and CPI)

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2026, College Access, College Affordability, Politics, Research/Policy, Workforce

The Workforce Pell Grant—A Cautionary Tale

by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist Last July, Congress passed a budget reconciliation bill that included Workforce Pell, which will provide—for the first time—Pell Grant funding to students who enroll in short-term, workforce-oriented training programs and certifications. These grants will be available to students starting July 1, 2026. Programs must be between 150 and 599 clock hours and last between 8 … Continue reading The Workforce Pell Grant—A Cautionary Tale

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2022, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Politics, Research/Policy

Loan Cancellation or Pension Bailout? A Conundrum for the Pundits

by Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist In August 2022, the Biden Administration dropped a student loan cancellation program on the country. At a cost of over $400 million, the program was to cancel $10,000 of student loan debt from anyone with an income of under $125,000/year ($250k if married filing jointly). Another $10,000 for those who received a Pell Grant, which is … Continue reading Loan Cancellation or Pension Bailout? A Conundrum for the Pundits

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