Category: ROI/College Outcomes

2020, Research/Policy, ROI/College Outcomes, Student Success

Telling the Truth About Returns to Education

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute I’ve documented the returns to education for several decades, in terms of personal, family, and household income. These data have been used largely to showcase the returns to a higher education and make the case that the cost of a college degree, especially a bachelor’s degree, is worth it. Alas, it remains true that … Continue reading Telling the Truth About Returns to Education

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2020, Retention, ROI/College Outcomes, Student Success

The Demographic Challenge of Higher Education

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scientist, Educational Policy Institute Most postsecondary institutions across the country are experiencing sharp and steady declines in enrollment. This is for two primary reasons: demographic and economic trends. In 2010, the US hit a peak of college-aged students that has since been on a slow decline. The chart below illustrates both the decline and the projected enrollment until … Continue reading The Demographic Challenge of Higher Education

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2019, Research/Policy, ROI/College Outcomes

Yelp for Higher Ed? Please No…

I just read an article in the Chronicle Vitae last week titled Why We Need a Yelp for Doctoral Programs, by Leonard Cassuto of Fordham University (December 19, 2019). His thesis is that prospective students and funders could benefit from a Yelp-like web directory of doctoral programs, complete with comments from students and alumnus about the quality of their graduate program. Cassuto argues (correctly) that … Continue reading Yelp for Higher Ed? Please No…

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2019, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Research/Policy, ROI/College Outcomes

The Problem with Loan Forgiveness

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute Last week, Presidential nominee and Senator Elizabeth Warren called for the cancellation of student loan debt for 42 million borrowers. According to an article by InsideHigherEd.com, this would result in cancelation of $50,000 of loan debt for former students who incomes are less than $100,000 and even provide forgiveness for those with incomes up … Continue reading The Problem with Loan Forgiveness

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2018, ROI/College Outcomes

The Over-Under on Underemployment

I am a product of higher education and my 10 years of postsecondary study have served me well. My college degrees gave me the opportunity to access better jobs and a better lifestyle. The College Plan worked for me, and it continues to help millions of others across the US, Canada, and beyond. What we are learning, however, is that it doesn’t help everyone in the same way. And for some, it doesn’t help at all. Continue reading The Over-Under on Underemployment

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