This report outlines key data elements related to the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), and Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) for the 2022-23 academic year and is a core resource for policymakers, institutional leaders, counselors and other stakeholders across the region. This report…

For the first time in U.S. history, a proposal for nationwide free community college passed through the House of Representatives in the fall of 2021. Although the provision was ultimately dropped from President Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill, its early presence suggests the political appeal of making college accessible to more Americans. These…

International higher education is facing increasing competition and pressure from new market entrants, who are introducing disruptive models of delivering more affordable education on scale. Higher education is definitely more than ever at a crossroads in terms of securing its future existence, which is why it becomes essential for academic…

This white paper encourages board members to take a step back and think about long-term strategies for ensuring that financial aid policies are consistent with institutional mission at the same time that they serve fiscal and enrollment goals. While board members can determine financial aid and enrollment policies only at the broadest level, it is…

The federal and state governments are placing greater emphasis on postsecondary attainment while concerns about rising college costs for students and families surge. Both groups are calling on institutions to do more to help improve student access and achievement rates. Further, recent research and policy have put pressure on institutions to admit…

The term "tuition driven" no longer pertains only to private colleges. As state appropriations to public universities dwindle, more colleges are relying to a greater degree on keeping classes full in order to generate revenue. The fact is, virtually all institutions are essentially tuition driven. Although trustees generally understand what being…

Discussion of prepaid college tuition plans looks at their strengths and weaknesses and provides an analysis to illustrate their use as an alternative in funding a child's future education. It is noted that, although some financial planners argue against them, they can offer significant savings by locking in tuition rates. (MSE)

Analysis of tax treatment of tuition prepayment plans suggests that they expose parents and institutions to serious risks and cannot be expected to provide a useful form of insurance. The only two published rulings subject investors to harsh tax treatment and address only one controversial form of prepayment plan. (MSE)

The high tuition/high student aid approach will not only change how higher education is financed, it will also have powerful political and educational consequences, using student and parental contributions as a means of redistributing income. Current economic conditions offer an opportunity to more clearly define shared responsibilities for higher…

Characteristics of enrollees in the Michigan Education Trust, an advance tuition payment plan, during its 1988 and 1989 open enrollment periods are examined and compared with those of the state's general population and the 1988 entering class of freshmen in its public universities. (Author/MSE)

A discussion of Florida's college tuition prepayment program describes the plan and its options and examines its marketing implications as a preneed service. It is concluded that the program makes saving for college easy, economical, and completely safe but requires rethinking of conventional marketing strategies and mix. (MSE)

Discussion of guaranteed college tuition programs first explores their origins and reasons for continuing high inflation rates for tuition. The relationship between tuition increase and enrollment is examined, and many current guaranteed tuition plans are reviewed. Basic considerations in developing a model for a multiyear plan are outlined and a…

Four ways to calculate students' net cost of attending college are presented, and merits and drawbacks of each are discussed. Results suggest college remains affordable for most students, and that students have ways to further reduce their net cost. Results also suggest that financial aid programs have had some success in providing access to…

The college or university's business office can help reduce problems with student receivables through procedural review of the tuition revenue process, application of analytical methods, and improved operating practices. Admissions, financial aid, and billing offices must all be involved. (MSE)

Outlines an approach to better collection of delinquent college tuition that connects students with outstanding tuition to lenders. Suggests criteria for selecting an appropriate lender, and highlights benefits both for student motivation to repay debts and for institutional cash flow. (MSE)