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Research & Reports


College is Still Worth It, even with Student Debt, but We Can Do Better
When we account for student debt payments, degree holders still outearn those who do not complete a degree by an average of $8,000 a year.
The Brookings Institution
Nov 3, 2025


The Economic Impact of Higher Education in America
The American Council on Education (ACE) has unveiled its Higher Education Economic Indicators Tool , a comprehensive database highlighting the economic value of postsecondary institutions across local, state, regional, and national economies. “ACE’s Higher Education Economic Indicators Tool demonstrates in concrete terms the value of American higher education and how important our institutions are as drivers of economic prosperity,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “Instituti
American Council on Education
Oct 5, 2025


The College Degree Is Not Losing Value
For a half century, the most recession-proof story in mainstream journalism has been declaring that college degrees aren’t recession-proof. Every economic downturn produces headlines warning that diplomas have lost—or are losing—their value. “Two things about these stories have remained constant,” Kevin Carey, who currently directs the education policy program at New America, wrote in The New Republic in 2011. “They always feature an over-educated bartender, and they are al
Nate Weisberg
Sep 29, 2025


Falling Behind: How Skills Shortages Threaten Future Jobs
The U.S. economy is facing growing skills shortages in critical occupations due to an unmet need for workers with the postsecondary...
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
Sep 15, 2025


Varying Degrees 2025: Americans Find Common Ground in Higher Education
Higher education is under intensifying political and public scrutiny, facing challenges like federal funding freezes and overhauls of...
New America
Jun 16, 2025


The State of Higher Education 2025
The 2025 State of Higher Education report provides new insight into the value Americans place on post-high school education — and what...
Gallup-Lumina
May 7, 2025


Is College Still Worth It?
A college degree was once viewed as a surefire ticket to a good job and a clear pathway for upward mobility. However, concerns about the...
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Apr 16, 2025


Is College Worth It?
The Public Policy Institute of California explores whether the benefits of a college degree outweigh the costs. Although most California...
Public Policy Institute of California
Apr 1, 2025
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