Higher Education

New perspectives on the path to and through college

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From the Field

The Mobility Maze: Gateways and Gatekeepers in Higher Education

College admissions and higher education’s impact on social mobility

Commentary

An Equity Agenda for Higher Education

Authored byTed Mitchell

Ted Mitchell is president of the American Council on Education, a Washington-based organization representing more than 1,700 higher education institutions.

Commentary

Bringing College Courses to Disadvantaged High Schools

Authored byPhyllis W. Jordan

An innovative program teaching college coursework to Title I high school students

Report

Incomplete: The Unfinished Revolution in College Remedial Education

Authored byAnne Kim

Reforms around college remediation programs, or developmental education, have stalled, leaving many underserved students stuck. This report explains how to revive the “dev-ed” movement.

Commentary

Is Free College Best for Helping Low-Income Students?

Authored byAlain Poutré

An alternative to free college tuition

Commentary

In Defense of College Degrees and New Post-Secondary Pathways

Authored byJeffrey J. Selingo

An essay about the debate over attending college

College Degree

25%

U.S. adults who say a four-year college degree is extremely or very important for a well-paying job in today’s economy
40%

U.S. adults who say a college degree is not too or not at all important

Source: Pew Research Center

Undocumented Immigrants

1,908,000

First-generation immigrant students in the U.S. higher education system
408,000

Undocumented students enrolled in higher education

Source: Higher Ed Immigration Portal

College Dropout Rates

32.9%

Undergraduates who do not complete their degree program
35%

Less income earned among dropouts compared to bachelor’s degree holders

Source: Education Data Initiative

Higher Education

$30,000

Average total income among U.S. adults with no postsecondary education
$75,000

Average total income among U.S. adults with a bachelor's degree

Source: Gallup

Legacy Advantage

37%

Acceptance rate at selected elite colleges for legacy students
9.5%

Acceptance rate at the same schools for non-legacy students

Source: The New York Times

Rebounding FAFSA Completions

4.6%

Increase in FAFSA completions among the class of 2022
9.1%

Among students from low-income schools

Source: National College Attainment Network

College Tuition Increases

1.6%

Increase in tuition in 2021-22 for in-state students at public, 4-year institutions
2.1%

Increase for students at private, nonprofit 4-year institutions

Source: The College Board