A new publication from the Data Quality Campaign highlights the current landscape and challenges of state data systems for postsecondary education and offers recommendations to align state and institutional data systems.
Author: Laurie Arnston
Navigating Anti-DEI in Higher Education
A new report from the University of Michigan’s National Center for Institutional Diversity examines how 40 chief diversity officers are navigating anti-DEI policies and offers strategies to sustain civil rights leadership amid growing political opposition.
Pell Grant Dollars Are Left Unclaimed: What That Means for Students and States
A new NCAN report finds that nearly $4.4 billion in Pell Grants went unclaimed in 2024, as about 830,000 eligible high school graduates failed to complete the FAFSA—missing a crucial opportunity for students and state economies.
Renewing the Social Contract for Higher Education
With public confidence in colleges at a crossroads, Ted Mitchell and Timothy Knowles call for a new social contract centered on student success—and offer the Carnegie-ACE classification as a path forward.
Dual Enrollment’s Long-Term Effects on Student Earnings
A recent working paper reveals many dual enrollment students experience long-term economic benefits, although outcomes vary based on race and socioeconomic status.
No, Endowments Are Not the Answer to Federal Attacks on Higher Ed
Misunderstanding how endowments work puts scholarships, research, and students’ futures at risk—and distracts from the real threat facing higher education today.
How Can Institutions Best Support Their Online Learners?
After examining success coaching practices at three State University of New York institutions, the authors of new analysis from MDRC offer several policy recommendations to support online learners.
Strengthening America’s Regional Public Universities
A new Third Way report urges tailored federal and state support for regional public universities—rural and urban alike—that educate the majority of four-year public college students and drive local workforce development.
How Major Restrictions Silently Reshape Student Pathways
When university departments face increasing demand, many implement additional entry requirements. But this seemingly reasonable practice has far-reaching consequences for equity and workforce development, according to new research from Strada Education Foundation surveying recent college graduates.
The State of Student Mental Health at HBCUs
A report by UNCF, in partnership with the Healthy Minds Network and The Steve Fund, found that Black students at HBCUs demonstrate more positive mental health outcomes compared to students overall.
Three Easy Tax Fixes That Would Help Students Succeed
As Congress takes on tax reform, three bipartisan fixes—ending the tax on Pell Grants, modernizing employer education benefits, and simplifying tax credits—could make college more affordable for millions of students.
The Net Price of College Is Falling for Most Students
New research from the Brookings Institution reveals a surprising truth: inflation-adjusted college prices have fallen for most students over the past five years.