This primer presents "the most up-to-date evidence on the current state of affairs in higher education." Although a number of studies are cited throughout the rest of the publication, the introduction focuses on a longitudinal study conducted by The National Center for Education Statistics. The study began in 2002, when the students were high school sophomores, and continued until 2012, when they had emerged into the workforce, and it provides a compelling and convincing argument for the value of higher education to the life of the student and the success of society. Following the four main sections of the primer is a conclusion that discusses some of the effects that college has on students after they graduate. Examples of positive, non-monetary outcomes of higher education include higher voting and volunteer participation rates as well as improved personal and family well-being. The reader is reminded that "the people who attend and especially those who complete college were significantly different in many ways before they enrolled." One noteworthy statistic is the earnings gap between those who have attained a college degree and those who have not. In 2011, the average earnings of individuals with a bachelor's degree were $21,000 higher than those with only a high school diploma. "A Primer on the College Student Journey" is a useful resource for leaders within higher education, as well as for students and their families or any other stakeholders that interact with higher education. One limitation, however, is that for all of the data presented, there was a lack of deeper analysis of the findings and their implications. The author addresses this by stating that future publications will address many of the questions that were left unanswered in the primer.