The federal role in higher education has grown over the past two decades, and now a new administration has the opportunity to chart the direction of the country's colleges and universities. To help inform these decisions, the Urban Institute convened a bipartisan group of scholars and policy advisers to write a series of memos highlighting the…

Most economists expect the current economic downturn to be one of the most severe since World War II. In fact, there is a very real danger that the changing circumstances of students, families, state and federal governments, and educational institutions could interact to significantly diminish educational opportunity in the United States. The most…

This paper makes the case that it is time for a renewal of the federal commitment to educational access. While the federal government is only one of several critical partners in the higher education finance system in the United States, it is the only entity with either the mission or the capacity to take responsibility for the national agenda of…

While saving for college is important, educators should beware of savings programs involving significant funding. The difficulties of middle-class families should not divert attention from the problems of the less advantaged. A variety of savings plans will be needed, and both public and private educational and financial institutions will have a…

This article compares higher education and health care affordability, discussing overall expenditures, the role of government, the impact on private business, social values, institutional confidence, and demand factors. It argues that, although college affordability is a serious problem, it will not dominate future public policy debates to the…