New report from the Rockefeller Institute examines scalable state programs to close the college access and completion gaps
Albany, NY — The Rockefeller Institute of Government has released a report examining how innovative state programs can be scaled and replicated to help close the nation’s growing equity gaps in higher education.
Since the Great Recession, average state aid to higher education has decreased nationwide, resulting in greater reliance on tuition and increased student loan debt. Coupled with the recent fiscal uncertainty from the threat of federal higher education budget cuts and rising income inequality, college is now out of reach for many working- and middle-class families. The report reviews two state programs that show promise for reversing this trend — in Tennessee and New York — and outlines a roadmap for policymakers. Its recommendations include:
+ Focus on direct benefits to students rather than block grant-like funding to institutions.
+ Provide enhanced support for at-risk students.
+ Open new access points by breaking down traditional education structures.
+ In addition to expanding access to college, prioritize success and completion as well.
+ Continue to bend the cost curve of higher education for as many students as possible.
As college becomes less affordable, it is also becoming more essential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projected job growth is 11 percent when at least some postsecondary education is required; it is 5.6 percent when no postsecondary education is required.
The programs in New York and Tennessee have both significantly reduced the overall cost of an average college commuter student, and New York’s has reduced average four-year college costs nearly 30 percent. With potential budget cuts by the federal government and increasing fiscal stress on state and local governments, these programs can serve as important models for making a college education attainable for everyone.
The report was written by Rockefeller Institute President Jim Malatras. It was originally presented at the Annual Conference of the National Academy of Public Administration Standing Panel on Social Equity, hosted by the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs on June 12, 2018.