A discussion of the high level of student borrowing to pay for higher education looks at the situation today, examines college cost and aid trends, explores implications for the future if students continue to increase their borrowing, and offers a proposal to create a new generation of loan forgiveness programs through a public/private…

This report summarizes trend data on borrowing by students and parents to pay for college, and reports on a 1995 national survey of undergraduate students and their parents concerning student loan debt. Analysis of data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study found that there was an explosion in college borrowing in the 1990s; borrowing…

This document discusses information pertaining to retention at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC). Several studies have been conducted to gather information on students and discover what factors contribute to their decisions not to return to NVCC. Findings indicated that a large number of students do not return because of life…

This report uses data from the 1995-96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study to describe the financing of graduate and first-professional education. It begins with a series of profiles of students in selected graduate and first-professional programs, followed by a compendium of tables that provide detailed data on student characteristics, types…

A study examined operation of the campus-based Federal Work-Study (FWS) program and experiences and satisfaction of postsecondary students receiving this aid. A survey of FWS students during Fall 1998 indicated the following: (1) nearly all were satisfied with the program; (2) more than 95 percent would participate in the program again; (3) 80…

The purpose of this report is to provide policymakers and the general public with basic information about both the benefits and the costs of higher education. Some of this information illuminates the difference that postsecondary education makes to the prosperity of a state and its citizens. Also contained in this report are lesser known facts…

By examining trends in college affordability, this article explores the extent to which the public perception that college is not affordable is justified. First, the article describes trends in national indicators that contribute to ability to pay, including income growth, health care costs, debt burden, and personal savings rates. Trends in…

This analysis examines alternative ways to use the approximately $6 billion now spent annually on Pell Grants to produce higher maximum awards for low-income students. The need for such alternatives is based on the rapidly declining value of the maximum Pell Grant as a percentage of college costs. A table offers 5-year baseline projections under…

In fall 1990, a sample of continuing students in upper-division courses at Midlands Technical College (MTC) was surveyed to gather information about students' demographic characteristics; employment status; evaluation of MTC's marketing materials; source of income for education; reasons for selecting MTC; evaluation of class scheduling; and…

This comparative study synthesizes data from a national study which examined differences among states in their governance structures, and asked if differences in performance were related to governing structures and whether governance structure affected strategies of state policymakers. The seven states examined were grouped into four governance…

The 12 issues of this 1998 publication each contain one or more analyses of postsecondary educational opportunities, including tables and charts. Titles of the individual analytical articles are: "Pell Grant Program Participation, FFY 1974 to FFY 1999"; "Poverty Rates by Educational Attainment, 1996"; "Refinancing Higher…

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…

The?future of?this country's colleges and universities is threatened by global competitive pressures, powerful technological developments, restraints?on public finance and serious structural limitations that cry out for reform. This report from The Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education, has recommended strategic…

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…

Data from the 1993-94 ACT Assessment and a follow-up were examined to see how many black and white students eventually enrolled in what had been their first-choice colleges. Results for 12,448 blacks and 125,298 whites indicate that initial choices by blacks are more liable to change. (SLD)