Using an ex post facto analysis of outcomes data, this paper tracks the academic performances of developmental and non-developmental students and examines the effects that developmental courses have on subsequent academic progress leading up to graduation. Three-year data on developmental students and graduates were analyzed to discern the…

Over the past decade, the understanding of student mobility patterns has increased considerably through research based in the analysis of longitudinal data sets. A significant challenge to crafting effective policies on student mobility emerges from most states focusing on full-time, 18-to-24-year-old students. While fewer than half of…

The results from this study indicate similarities and differences in the factors related to the persistence of White and African American students in their freshman and sophomore years in college. Using random samples of data from students enrolled in public institutions of higher education in a Midwestern state, OLS regression analyses indicated…

This article reports on the plight of undocumented immigrant students in the United States. Fights have been waged in various state legislatures over the past few years concerning whether undocumented immigrant students should be able to benefit from in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities. But a story in The Wall Street Journal…

Public discussion of higher education costs frequently confuses price with expenditure. This article examines factors associated with increases in the sticker price of a college education and the expenditures incurred by institutions in delivering that education. The discussion suggests that while growth in college tuition is real, access to…

A myth persists in America that any student who is academically prepared for college can enroll. The disturbing truth is that trends in tuition and financial aid policies are preventing hundreds of thousands of college-qualified low-and moderate-income students from enrolling in college. This article describes the real limits on opportunity that…

Recent headlines about spiraling college prices combined with congressional proposals to penalize colleges and universities that increase their tuitions much faster than the rate of inflation could lead one to conclude that America faces an unprecedented crisis in college affordability. Closer examination of what students actually pay for college,…

Attaining a post-secondary credential has become increasingly important for securing opportunities to get high-return jobs in the United States in the 21st century. Students from low-income families are underrepresented at every milestone in the educational pipeline, limiting their ability to attain post-secondary credentials and break the…

States need strong higher education systems, now more than ever. In the tumultuous, highly competitive 21st century economy, citizens and workers need knowledge, skills, and credentials in order to prosper. Yet many colleges and universities are falling short. To give all students the best possible postsecondary education, states must create…

The SREB-State Data Exchange is a cooperative effort of SREB and the statewide higher education governing and coordinating boards in the South. Founded in 1969-1970, it is one of the nation's oldest, most comprehensive sources of comparative data on public higher education. The Data Exchange annually collects, compiles and publishes the most…

Research suggests that more students with disabilities are pursuing higher education than in years past, and recent legislative changes, such as those in the Higher Education Opportunity Act and Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, have the potential to increase the number and diversity of this population. GAO was asked to…

This study examined the demographic, pre-college, environmental, and college factors that impact students' interests in and decisions to earn a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree among students attending a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Results indicated that Hispanic students were well represented among STEM…

With nearly a third of all students in for-credit postsecondary education enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs, CTE is a valuable partner in moving reform efforts forward at the postsecondary level by providing leadership in pedagogy as well as systems-building and economic development. This enables CTE to play the role of…

This paper presents questions and answers regarding college access and success. These questions include: (1) What is the "achievement gap" and how serious is it?; (2) Is college the best option for all students? If not, why prepare all youth for college?; (3) Can we afford to send everyone to college?; (4) What prevents students from going to…

In this article, the author investigates the relationship between undergraduate student loan debt and degree attainment. Using data from the Beginning Postsecondary Student (BPS) surveys in 1995-1996 and 2000-2001, she examines whether the relationship between debt and degree attainment is different for students with different parental income…