Costs

American colleges and universities spend billions of dollars a year from state, federal, and private sources. The following articles identify ways to cut costs and ensure that public investment in higher education provides value to students, taxpayers, and society.

Jan 9, 2020 · Anthony Hennen

Did You Know? The State of Federal Student Loans

With the hyperbole inherent in a politicized topic like student loans, it’s important to step back and look at the data. The Department of Education recently published a quarterly report…

Jan 3, 2020 · Michael Shaughnessy

Defending Higher Education

Higher ed gets a lot of criticism from supporters and reformers alike. Sometimes it’s necessary, though, to look at its benefits and note the strengths of colleges. Steven Brint, distinguished…

Jan 2, 2020 · Jenna A. Robinson

Did You Know? The Struggle to Repay Student Loans

Each year, thousands of young people leave college with significant student debt. Most of those who choose the right majors, graduate on time, and find solid employment pay off their…

Dec 30, 2019 · Anthony Hennen

Sky-High Athletics: UNC Spends $125,000 on Private Planes for Recruiting

To reach far-flung towns, private planes can be indispensable. The University of North Carolina system, for instance, has an air fleet to shuttle doctors around the state. UNC Air Operations…

Dec 27, 2019 · Martin Center Staff

Our Hopes for Higher Ed Reform in 2020

As priorities shift in the minds of higher education leaders and students, it’s important to take stock of recent changes on the local and national levels. At the Martin Center,…

Dec 26, 2019 · Megan Zogby

Did You Know? The Law Schools That Pay Off for Graduates

New improvements in the College Scorecard data from the U.S. Department of Education have shown some of the specifics for how well degrees pay off. With those improvements, the public…

Dec 19, 2019 · Jenna A. Robinson

Did You Know? Average Salaries for Professors by Rank

Faculty salaries at public universities vary widely by rank and by institution type. The widest range of salaries occurs at doctoral universities with the highest amount of research activity (like…

Dec 13, 2019 · Douglas Oliver

Are Christian Colleges Worth the Debt Burden?

Editor’s Note: The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities will provide a rebuttal in the near future. I am counseling a young married couple experiencing serious financial hardship. Their financial…

Dec 12, 2019 · Anthony Hennen

Did You Know? How Majors at East Carolina U Pay Off

With new data on student debt and earnings released by the Department of Education, high school graduates can make better decisions about which school and major they choose. Looking at…

Dec 11, 2019 · Richard K. Vedder

New Research Shows Federal Student Aid Is Worse than We Thought

For years I have railed against the dysfunctional federal student loan program. The availability of cheap federal student loans has enabled universities to increase tuition fees aggressively, helping fund an…