The strong urgings of family, economists and educators have been heard: Students in record numbers have picked up the challenge of higher education and are headed for college. And leading the march through the college gates have been young men and women sometimes notable by their absence--Black, Hispanic and American Indian, and students from…

This report provides a summary of a forum held in Paris at the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) in September 1989. The purpose of the forum was to examine recent changes in industrialized countries in systems of financial support for students in higher education, and in particular to review experiences with student loans as…

In this article, the author discusses the final report from the Education Secretary's Commission on the Future of Higher Education--officially released on September 19 under the title "A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education." The report has its fair share of advocates and antagonists. But as with the NCLB…

The crisis of affordability in higher education is intensifying. Illustrations of its resonance abound: from the frequent news articles describing and amplifying the crisis and its sources to legislators' and candidates' proposed responses. Republicans' responses tend to be mainly punitive toward institutions; Democrats' proposals are more…

The Subcommittee conducted an oversight hearing on Section 529 College Savings Plans, State-sponsored investments that are designed to encourage families to save money for their children's college education. Section 529 refers to the Internal Revenue Code section that authorizes and confers special tax treatment on these entities. Section 529…

Public colleges and universities are complex organizations that assert their institutional autonomy as they simultaneously operate in a context demanding response to public and political scrutiny. State boards and legislators, for example, enact programs, incentives, or regulations in many policy arenas designed to affect how colleges operate. One…

"Open Doors" is a long-standing, comprehensive information resource on the 582,984 international students in the United States in 2006/07 and on the 223,534 U.S. students who studied abroad for academic credit in 2005/06. The Institute of International Education, one of the largest and most experienced U.S. higher education exchange…

Over the past few decades, higher education has become available around the world to a degree unimaginable to earlier generations. In many ways, accessible mass higher education is the foundation of the modern knowledge economy, and without it, the bright futures of many youth around the world would be dimmed. Preserving and enhancing the…

Over the last century, Americans have formed a social contract with higher education through the development of and changes to student financial aid programs. These federal, state, and institutional programs are the manifestation of the value we place on who should and who does pay the costs of higher education. Grants versus loans and low-income…

This report summarizes the postsecondary plans and scholarship monies of graduates of Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) high school seniors in SY07-08. Postsecondary plans represent the intentions of seniors the year after graduation. Students indicate whether they plan to attend a 4-year college/university, junior/community…

The purpose of the National Center's studies and reports, including "Measuring Up, 2006," is to stimulate public policies that will improve the effectiveness and accessibility of higher education. This document is the fourth national report card on higher education in the United States. As in earlier editions, the 2006 report card…

"Open Doors" is a long-standing, comprehensive information resource on the almost 565,000 international students in the United States in 2005/06 and on the nearly 206,000 U.S. students who studied abroad for academic credit in 2004/05. The Institute of International Education, one of the largest and most experienced U.S. higher education…

This report card, third in a series of biennial report cards on higher education, consists of a national report card and 50 state report cards. Measuring Up 2004 evaluates state performance in six categories, and for the first time, compares each state's current results with its own performance a decade ago. Contents include: (1) Foreword (James…

This study was conducted to better understand the relative affordability of public university education in Canada and the United States. The report was written to answer two key questions: (1) How does access to university education in Canada compare to access in the US? and (2) How affordable is the Canadian university system compared to the…

This 30th annual report summarizes results of the 1995-96 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), which collected data from graduates as they completed requirements for their doctoral degrees. The report notes the continued, but slowing, increase in research doctorates. Following an examination of general trends in the overall number of doctorates, the…