Aug 17 The difference $900 can make in college graduation rates By Kyla Calvert Mason At the start of each semester, the financial aid money appeared in Sana Ahmed Malik’s account. The federal and state funds typically covered the cost of tuition, with a little left over for books and living expenses. But the fall… Continue reading
Aug 17 Billions in Pell Grants go to students who never graduate By Sarah Butrymowicz, The Hechinger Report A Hechinger Report analysis of Pell grant graduation rate data from a cross section of colleges and universities suggests that billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded Pell grants nationwide go to students who never earn degrees. Continue reading
Aug 14 PBS NewsHour examines ‘The Graduation Gap’ By Kyla Calvert Mason Every night next week the PBS NewsHour will take a look at efforts on campuses across the country -- from the University of Texas at Austin to Valencia College in Orlando, Florida -- focused not just getting more low-income, first-generation… Continue reading
Aug 05 Pricey summer programs at elite universities may not give students admissions edge By Kirk Carapezza, WGBH Many high school students are now enrolling in expensive pre-college summer courses they hope will catch the eye of admissions officers they’d like to impress. But some in the admissions departments say these courses don't give any extra weight. Continue reading
Jul 31 Watch 6:24 Can higher ed keep inmates from returning to prison after release? By PBS News Hour The phrase “school to prison pipeline” refers to the link between spending time in failing schools and landing time behind bars. A pilot program aims to rewrite that saying by creating a “prison to college” pipeline. Special correspondent for education… Continue watching
Jul 09 Watch 6:00 Why getting a college degree doesn’t always pay off By PBS News Hour Today college is seen as crucial for career success and prosperity. "Will College Pay Off?" is a new book by Peter Cappelli, and the answer, he suggests, is that it depends -- on the price tag, how fast a student… Continue watching
Jul 08 Why the Education Dept. dismissed a discrimination complaint against Harvard By Molly Boigon, WGBH The Education Department has dismissed a claim that Harvard shows bias against Asian-American applicants, because a similar lawsuit has already been filed in federal court. Continue reading
Jul 03 How Obama reversed course on federal college ratings By Josh Lederman, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama dearly wanted to get the government in the business of rating colleges and universities based on value and affordability, promising a new system by 2015. Now that goal is shriveling under the weight of a… Continue reading
Jul 01 Why the government let many trade schools become diploma mills By Anne Flaherty, Associated Press WASHINGTON — How did trade schools go from being mom-and-pop shops that trained mechanics and hair stylists to making billions on Wall Street? And if the industry is as predatory as the Education Department and many lawmakers suggest, why didn't… Continue reading
Jun 29 How churches are trying to raise the college graduation rate By Kayleigh Skinner, The Hechinger Report “What we’re trying to do is move the needle to get as many people into education programs as possible,” said the organization’s associate director, Camy Sorge. “It’s really about, ‘How can we reach the most people?’”… Continue reading