The United States has nearly 4,000 degree-granting four-year colleges and universities. Yet because attention often centers on the handful of elite universities that top the college rankings, it can be easy to overlook regional public universities (RPUs), which educate nearly 70 percent of all U.S. college students each year. Despite the scale of their impact, they often get less airtime from policymakers and the media—and they often have fewer resources than other types of colleges. These institutions do more with less, serving college students from all backgrounds while balancing affordability and value to deliver a strong return on investment upon graduation.
This report from Third Way reveals key facts about who RPU students are and how they perceive their college or university is doing in delivering value and helping them reach their full potential.