Although an emergence of literature focuses on the college transition process, few studies exclusively highlight the experiences of first-generation and racially underrepresented students. Several structural factors hinder the progress and development of marginalized students as a result of the intersection of racism and classism. Pre-college…

Exacerbated by the pandemic, the decline in Indiana's college-going rate for recent high school graduates has accelerated. This presents stark challenges which must be addressed with urgency and thoughtfulness. Fewer Hoosiers are pursuing education or training after high school. The state's college-going rate fell from 59 percent for the high…

The pandemic exacerbated many of the challenges facing higher education in Indiana--declining college-going rates, widening equity gaps, the persistent questioning of the value of higher education--all now compounded by issues of learning loss and economic upheaval. This report provides a pre-pandemic baseline for consideration, as education…

Since 2012, community colleges have made a considerable effort to increase student success and completion. Today, as much greater attention is being paid to drawing stronger linkages between education and workforce needs, institutions are becoming more strategic and deliberate in this work. In particular, many institutions are building stronger…

Postsecondary education is a fundamental tool for achieving upward mobility and economic growth. Students with an associate's or bachelor's degree earn substantially more in a lifetime and experience better working conditions and job benefits than students with only a high school diploma. This study examines differences in public college…

The report outlines ways colleges and universities can improve access and attainment for underserved students, particularly Pell Grant recipients, who come from low-income backgrounds. "Serving Their Share" lists 10 prominent public institutions who are failing to enroll as many low-income, high-achieving students as they could, based on…

Many states are experimenting with mechanisms for making college more affordable while maintaining quality and access. This report examines promising or innovative state programs to improve college affordability and credential attainment. Many of these approaches show innovative thinking and bear watching to see if they result in meaningful…

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education's College Readiness Reports are designed to provide information on students entering college. The reports encompass the first year of college for students who graduated from high school during the previous academic year, and the College Readiness dashboard provides a closer look at longer-term outcomes…

Research suggests that low-income high school students may opt out of preparing for college, because they believe a postsecondary education is more than they or their parents can afford. At the same time, federal agencies and some state agencies have indicated that every year available student aid goes unused. In response to these misconceptions…

This report provides information about the performance of 2009 graduating seniors who took the ACT as sophomores, juniors, or seniors; and self-reported at the time of testing that they were scheduled to graduate in 2009 and tested under standard time conditions. This report focuses on: (1) Performance: student test performance in the context of…

This report is part of the Indiana College-Level Manpower Study and provides statistical information concerning future college enrollments and manpower supply. The survey data of this report deal with the educational and occupational plans of Indiana high school seniors who had pursued college preparatory programs at the secondary education level.…

This report provides an overview of Indiana's Twenty-first Century Scholars Program and analyzes a state database to assess the impact of the program on college enrollment and persistence. The Twenty-first Century Scholars Program asks low-income eighth graders to make a commitment to take the necessary steps to prepare for college. In return, the…

This paper discusses the relationship between education and earnings, explaining that most states still consider college preparatory courses to be electives, and the skills and content needed for further education are not typically reflected in state high school assessments. It discusses the implications of this mismatch for young people, focusing…

This document presents the findings from a task force whose charge was to compare the expectations postsecondary institutions have of their entering freshmen with the proficiencies expected of Indiana high school students and to develop recommendations for reducing whatever gaps might exist between the two. These recommendations take the form of…

Following a trend in a number of states, Indiana has begun a project to improve college preparation and encourage high school students to pursue higher education. The effort includes a toll-free hotline, a statewide database for monitoring student characteristics, and standardized testing of basic skills. (MSE)