Category: 2019

2019, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Research/Policy

A Lot of Talk About a $40 Million Tuition Gift

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute This past Saturday, Billionaire Robert F. Smith, who made his money in private tech equities, delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College in Atlanta and promised to pay the debt for the 400 graduates in attendance. Morehouse is no slouch institution. The all-male and almost all Black college[1] has a total cost of attendance … Continue reading A Lot of Talk About a $40 Million Tuition Gift

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2019, admissions, College Access, Research/Policy

Does it Matter if You Attend a Top-Ranked Institution?

By Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute I read an article published this week by Richard Reeves and Katherine Guyot of Brookings titled: “US College Scandal: How much differences does going to a top university make?” There is nothing earth shattering here; it basically buttresses what most of us in the industry have said for years: attending a selective institution has … Continue reading Does it Matter if You Attend a Top-Ranked Institution?

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2019, admissions, College Access, Student Success

A Story of Excellence and Advantage — The Story of Esther Wojcicki

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute Esther Wojcicki is a very bright woman. On Friday, the education expert wrote a piece on TIME magazine titled “I Raised Two CEOs and a Doctor. These Are My Secrets to Parenting Successful Children.” The piece is an excerpt from her upcoming book, “How to Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons for Radical Results.” In it … Continue reading A Story of Excellence and Advantage — The Story of Esther Wojcicki

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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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2019, admissions, College Access, Student Success

Predictive Modeling for Student Success: A Cautionary Tale

Many colleges and universities continue to turn towards predictive modeling to complement their admissions and enrollment processes. A recent report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario found that 36 percent of respondents from Canadian universities and colleges were using predictive modeling as a way to “improving student retention” and 40 percent said they were considering doing so. Respondents said they used the process to inform their strategies for retention, including support services and individual advising. Continue reading Predictive Modeling for Student Success: A Cautionary Tale

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