In December 2023, TICAS published new research on the College Affordability Gap--the gap between students' total cost of attendance and non-loan aid available to them--in California, Michigan, and New York, with a focus on students eligible for Pell Grants. Our new report builds on this research with data from nine additional states (Colorado,…

Now more than ever, philanthropy seeks to use its grant making and voice to build and support equity for historically marginalized communities. Toward that end, postsecondary education is an important area of investment because it is a critical pathway to economic mobility and stability. At the same time, colleges are serving a growing number of…

High-structure course designs have reduced achievement gaps for low-income and underrepresented minority students at research universities. But do community college students have time to do the preclass preparation required for intensive active learning, given their work and family commitments? We asked introductory majors biology students at two…

Community colleges are mission-driven institutions committed to access and community needs. They serve a diverse population: The majority of students are employed, so they have to balance work with school; about one-third are first-generation, so they are navigating an unfamiliar system for the first time in their families; and 15% are single…

A growing number of community and technical colleges have made significant commitments to designing and sustaining supportive learning environments that help all students, including student mothers, realize their potential while also integrating the necessary academic, career, and personal supports that make it possible for an increasingly…

The Annual 2013-14 Enrollment Report provides a snapshot of enrollment statistics in Washington's community and technical colleges during the 2013-2014 academic year. Highlighted trends include: (1) In 2013-14, the legislative target (includes university centers, private career schools and community-based organizations) for the system was 139,237…

College students are increasingly combining studying with paid employment, and community college students tend to work even longer hours compared with students at four-year colleges. Yet, there is little evidence on the academic consequences of community college students' term-time employment. Using a rare administrative dataset from Washington…

This report explores the demographics of community college students and how they compare to those in other sectors of higher education. Next, it reviews the common reasons undergraduate students stop their studies or drop out. The report then examines technology-enhanced education in community colleges and presents several case studies showing how…

A survey of 1,151 working students in Washington community colleges identified such enrollment barriers as scheduling difficulties and finances. Students were most satisfied with quality of instruction, equipment, and training relevance, least satisfied with financial aid, job information, and course availability. (SK)

This report presents findings of a study of the off-campus employment status of undergraduate college students attending all of the public and most of the private institutions of higher education in Washington State during the winters of 1997 and 1998. Specifically the study examined: (1) characteristics of working students; (2) work patterns…

This interim report summarizes the progress and future directions of the Gender Equity Plans submitted by Washington State's public four-year universities and colleges, and its community college system. The report represents a monitoring of institutional and system efforts to address issues of gender equity affecting students in the areas…

This report summarizes the gender equity self-studies and plans for all six of the public, four-year universities and colleges in the State of Washington, as well as from the 27-member community college system. The evaluation encompassed 10 major areas: (1) the adoption of a nondiscrimination statement; (2) compliance procedures; (3) academic…

Student costs and financing of college were studied in Washington State using the College Scholarship Service's Student Expense and Resource Survey (SEARS). The study population consisted of: (1) full-time undergraduate students and full-time graduate students in master's or traditional doctoral level programs at state institutions; (2) full-time…