Did You Know?
College Costs Rising Four Times Faster Than Income, Two and a Half Times Faster Than Pell
Over the last three decades, college costs have soared, rising nearly four times faster than median family income and two and a half times faster than the maximum Pell Grant. Learn More »
Unemployment Disproportionately Affects Minority Racial and Ethnic and Lower-Educated Groups
Unemployment Disproportionately Affects Minority Racial and Ethnic and Lower-Educated Groups Learn More »
Unemployment Disproportionately Affects Youth
Unemployment is more likely to impact the youth population and is also more devastating for young men and minorities. Learn More »Integrating Basic Skills Education and Occupational Skills Training
Educational outcomes are higher for basic skills students that are taught in courses that integrate occupational skills training with academic content. Learn More »Four Proven Mechanisms for Student Success
Non-academic supports to assist students in facilitating social relationships, clarifying their aspirations, navigating the college environment, and simply making ends meet can boost student success and improve outcomes. Learn More »Today’s Students Must Balance School and Work
43 percent of undergraduate students are employed part-time, and an additional 32 percent work full-time while balancing academics and obligations at home. Learn More »Federal Investments in Workforce Development Prove Effective
Federal investments in workforce development have been shown to help low-income people find jobs, improve their earnings, contribute to their communities, and provide their children with better opportunities. Learn More »Eliminating Barriers to Student Decision-Making Improves Outcomes
Policies to simplify community college structure and reduce student confusion can result in lower dropout rates, higher gains in student achievement, and better student experiences. Learn More »Acceleration Strategies Improve Developmental Education Outcomes
Acceleration programs can reduce time spent on developmental education courses while also increasing course completion rates. Learn More »Aging Population Means No Growth in High School Graduates
Between 2010 and 2020, the number of high school graduates in the United States will stay flat, whereas adult college enrollment will increase rapidly. Learn More »Demographic Trends Require a New Focus on Educating Low-Skilled Adult Workers
Two-thirds of our 2020 workforce is already beyond the reach of our elementary and secondary schools so we must also invest in helping working adults and out-of-school gain marketable credentials if we are to meet the President's goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. Learn More »College Students with Children
Twenty-three percent of college students have dependent children, and thirteen percent are single parents. Learn More »Declining Federal Investment for Workforce Training
Labor Department funding for programs like the Job Training Partnership Act and the Workforce Investment Act had seen a 33 percent decline since 1988. Learn More »Employers Unable to Fill Skilled-Worker Vacancies
61 percent of U.S. employers say it is difficult to find qualified workers to fill vacancies at their companies. Learn More »One- and Two-Year Credentials Can Offer Self-Sufficiency for Low-Income Americans
Eight years after graduating from high school, 43 percent of occupational certificate holders earn a median annual salary that is higher than that earned by someone holding an associates degree. Twenty-seven percent earn more than someone holding a bachelors degree. Learn More »Industry-Specific Training Programs can Help Workers Obtain Employment, Save Businesses Money
Programs that provide training to workers on an industry-specific skill set are successful at getting people into jobs, providing individuals with earnings gains, and reducing turnover and hiring costs for businesses. Learn More »Closing the Graduation Rate Gap Between High- and Low- Income Students
Closing the gap between higher and lower income students in terms of their access to and success in postsecondary education would generate over $250 billion in GDP and approximately $85 billion in additional tax revenue. Learn More »