There is a widening college access gap in the United States. The ever-rising cost of higher education, coupled with diminished government financial support and growing income inequality, have put college out of reach for many at a critical juncture when postsecondary education is essential for enhancing career prospects. The situation has been…

The rapidly changing economy is raising the stakes on states to address the skilled workforce needs of employers and to expand economic opportunity to more people and places. To guide the policy actions of states, Jobs for the Future (JFF) designed a comprehensive policy agenda for increasing attainment of postsecondary credentials valued in the…

Changes in the filing date and tax year data used to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will affect all colleges and universities, even those not planning to make changes in their aid programs.

In 2016, there was an increasingly dramatic divergence between state economies in the West. Most states in the region benefited from an ongoing economic recovery, but states reliant on the energy sector for tax revenues were hit hard by the global decline in oil prices. This resulted in varying budget situations in legislatures across the…

This paper focused on the challenges in educating the visually impaired and modalities for ensuring quality assurance in tertiary institutions of learning in Nigeria. It examined the global challenges in the higher educational system and made it clear that the visually impaired are those with visual problems be it partial, low vision, or total…

Upward mobility is a prized aspect of the American dream based upon the belief that those from humble origins can climb the socioeconomic ladder through education and hard work. Increasingly, postsecondary education is an essential component of that dream. However, many students, particularly those from low to moderate income families, find it…

The first full paper that is dedicated to cost in medical education appears in the "BMJ" in 1893. This paper "The cost of a medical education" outlines the likely costs associated with undergraduate education at the end of the nineteenth century, and offers guidance to the student on how to make financial planning. Many lessons…

The big news in England as this issue went to press was that the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) had published its interim report on the effect of means-tested student bursaries on university retention rates (OFFA 2014). The finding that presaged a wave of introspection for universities is that OFFA could identify no evidence that bursaries help to…

For those needing a loan to attend college, think federal aid first. Federal student loans usually offer borrowers lower interest rates and have more flexible repayment terms and options than private student loans. This brief report answers the following questions about federal aid: (1) What is a federal student loan?; (2) What is a private…

Students who appear young on college campuses may be in an "Early College" program. Several factors have increased the popularity of these programs, though a proactive push from higher education to expand them has not been a primary one. The impetus for the growth of such programs has come from legislators as well as from high school…

Spiraling costs and lack of understanding of how to manage those costs lead many students to never enroll, or drop out before completing their degrees. While state and federal funding can help to offset college costs, low-income students often are unaware that institutional aid can significantly lower costs and in some cases make college…

College can seem out of reach for many low-income students. Too often they believe college is unaffordable and unattainable. It is no surprise then that students from the bottom socioeconomic quartile are eight times less likely to earn a bachelor's degree than students from the top socioeconomic quartile (7.4% versus 60%). Colleges and…

The purpose of this study was to identify the status and challenges of online distance education programs in post-secondary institutions in Ghana. This study was a replication of a similar study conducted in Kenya in 2009, at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. This present study was conducted with an online survey using Google…

Texas's higher education plan, 60x30TX, calls for undergraduate student loan debt to not exceed 60 percent of first-year wages for graduates of Texas public institutions by 2030 (earning a certificate, associate's, or bachelor's). The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) calculates the total undergraduate debt of a graduate as all…

This document records testimony from a hearing held to discuss higher education and transparency as Congress is working to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Susan A. Rankin, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development; and (2) Honorable Brett Guthrie, Chairman,…