Three Primers: College Access, College Affordability, and Economic Outcomes
July 30, 2024
These papers were commissioned by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Abstract
Earlier this year, the Carnegie Postsecondary Commission released its inaugural vision paper, “Revitalizing Higher Education: A Blueprint for Transformative Change.” As a precursor to this release, the HEA Group produced three baseline papers, as the Commission considered ideas and endeavors that will lead to transformational change of the American higher education system, and promise increased access, affordability, and meaningfully improved outcomes for students enrolled in postsecondary school, especially those furthest from opportunity.
Understanding College Access
In this paper, we provide a general overview on college access. Specifically, we explore who attends college nowadays, where they come from, and the disparities between those populations.
Understanding College Affordability
In this paper, we examine how much college costs students at institutions across the United States. Beyond the average student, we also look at the out-of- pocket costs for low- and moderate-income students, specifically those from families with incomes below $75,000 per year.
Understanding College Economic Outcomes
In this paper, we examine the economic outcomes that students obtain by pursuing a postsecondary credential in the United States. Specifically, we examine how much they earn, whether there are differences between demographics, and whether they earn more than someone with no college experience.
