Public two-year colleges serve as an important access point for two out of every five students enrolled in postsecondary education. However, only 40 percent of community college students earn a postsecondary credential of any kind within six years, limiting their opportunities for advancement.1 Hoping to increase student retention and success, many colleges are developing and…

Stark differences by race and ethnicity exist in student borrowing trends are well known, but real progress depends on setting up a different conversation. This collection explores the complexities of student debt; focuses on systems change and not blaming individuals; puts experts of color at the center; and emphasizes important differences among Black, Hispanic, and…

New America came out with a brief this week that uses data from the Adult Training and Education Survey, combined with insights from a series of focus groups, which suggest that many short-term programs fall short of their promises, with many graduates left unemployed or facing very poor earnings. Post-completion earnings are especially low for…

The credential landscape is vast—and it continues to grow. A new report from Credential Engine shows 967,734 unique credentials in the United States. As in previous reports, the new research demonstrates the need to dramatically improve transparency in the credential marketplace to promote economic growth and individual mobility.

This report examines the relationship between students’ participation in high-impact practices (HIP) and their perceived learning gains, with special attention paid to the nature of these relationships among Black and Hispanic students and among students 25 years or older. In 2018, with support from Lumina Foundation, the National Association of System Heads (NASH) launched an…

This working paper from Ithaka S+R examines the relationship between increased attainment of two- and four-year college degrees and state revenues and expenses. The report builds on prior work that details states’ approaches to and progress toward meeting their attainment goals.

The Undergraduate Degree Earners report series, published annually, provides demographic and educational profile data for all students graduating with an associate, bachelor’s, or certificate. In the current report, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center profiles graduates in the 2019-20 academic year, with a focus on first-time versus non-first-time graduates, and changes in demographics and education credentials received…

A new report from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics shows the increasing role of community colleges in helping people with bachelor's degrees. Of the 14.8 million graduates who earned their first bachelor’s degree between 2008 and 2017, more than half had previously attended a community college and 25 percent had earned an…

Over the next decade, employers will need to fill millions of jobs that require higher-order thinking skills, specialized knowledge, and education or training beyond high school. This report from Credential Engine explores how states can align education and employment information to meet their talent goals.

A new report from the Center for the Study of HBCUs at Virginia Union University analyzes the administration’s proposed education policies, specifically those that affect historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The policies featured in the study focus on federal Pell Grant increases, enhanced research opportunities at HBCUs, student loan debt, and student success.