 Dear reader,
In our continuing look at the many changes and challenges to U.S. higher education, we’ve found some surprising and interesting trends I can’t wait to share. One involves tens of millions of dollars the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been lending to keep rural colleges and universities afloat —underscoring how integral they are to local communities and their economies.
Here’s another trend that should take us all aback: Schools where students from families earning under $30,000 are paying more after discounts and aid than those from families making $110,000 a year, according to the latest available federal data. We found 17 such institutions across 14 states, including two public universities.
The many obstacles to college attainment and completion have been part of our work for many years, and we continue to see new roadblocks. As part of our Saving the College Dream collaboration with seven newsrooms, we found that transfers from community colleges to four-year institutions are so unwieldy and unexpectedly costly that in some cases, students are deciding it simply isn’t worth it. And yet another obstacle: Promises of free college don’t always help low-income students — we look at why.
We will continue our reporting, looking for success stories, the latest research and new ways of thinking about both the value and cost of higher education. Let us know what you think: We love to hear from our readers, and need more of them! Please urge others to sign up for our newsletters and get in touch with ideas.
Liz Willen, Editor
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Main Idea