Intro

The American Experiment inRegressive Social Policy and

Higher Education Opportunity Michigan TRIO Conference

Kellogg Center, Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, Michigan

April 16, 2012

Tom MortensonSenior Scholar,

The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher EducationHigher Education Policy Analyst,

Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY

How We Compare to OECD Countries:Bachelor’s Degrees Attainment

Among 25 to 34 Year Olds• 2003• 2009• Change between 2003 and 2009• 2020• 2026

Tertiary Type-A Degree Attain 25-34 yr olds OECD 2003

Tertiary Type-A Degree Attain 25-34 OECD 2009

Change in Tertiary Type-A Degree Attain 25-34 OECD 2000-2009

Projected Tertiary Type-A Degree attain OECD 2020

Projected Tertiary Type-A Degree Attain 25-34 OECD 2026

Pipeline for Students by Family Income

• High school graduation• College continuation• College participation• Estimate bachelor’s degree completion• Estimated bachelor’s degree attainment

Change in Estimated Bachelor’s Degree Attain rate by Age 24

Family Income Quartile

Grad, Continuation, Completion, Attain rates

Upper Family Inc Limits for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Family Income Quartiles

HS Grad Rates by Family Income Quartiles 18 to 24 yr olds

Change in HS Grad Rate by Income Quartile

College Continuation Rates by Family Income Quartiles

Change in College Continuation Rate by Income Quartile

College Participation Rates by Family Income Quartiles

Dependent 18 to 24 yr olds

Change in College Participation Rate by Income Quartile

Estimated Bach Degree Completion age 24, FamilyInc Quartile,

dependent

Change in Estimated Completion rate by Income quartile

Distribution of Bach Degrees Awarded by Age 24 by Family

Income Quartiles

Share of Dependent 18 to 24 Year Old Enrollment

Distribution of Dependent 18 to 24 Year Old Enrollment by

Institutional Level & Family Inc

Change in Distribution Dependent 18 to 24 Enrollment by Institutional

Level & Family Inc

Share of Dependent 18 to 24 Old Enrollment from Bottom Family Inc Quartile in 4-Yr Institutions

Share of Dependent 18 to 24 Old Enrollment from Second Family Inc

Quartile in 4-Yr Institutions

Share Dependent 18 to 24 Old Enrollment from Third Family Inc

Quartile in 4-Yr Institutions

Share of Dependent 18 to 24 Old Enrollment from Top Family Inc

Quartile in 4-Yr Institutions

Share of Dependents 18 to 24 Enrolled Full-Time

Distribution of Dependent 18 to 24 Year Old Enrollment by Enrollment

Status & Family Inc

Change in Distribution of Dependent 18 to 24 Enrollment by

Enrollment Status & Family Inc

Financial Barriers to Higher Education

• Unmet financial Need• Student work/loan burden• Net price to family• Net price to family as share of family income

Policy Eras in the United States1862 to 1980: The Progressive Policy Era:• Morrill Land Grant Act created state universities• Teachers colleges for universal K-12 education• Community colleges• Need-based financial aid for students• GI Bill for returning World War II military veterans• Supportive services for students

1980 to Present: The Regressive Policy Era:• Federal shift from grants to loans, abandon needs-test• State reduction in higher education investment efforts• State shift from need-based grants to merit scholarships• Universities and colleges lust for prestige and revenue

Proposals:• $13,000 Pell Grant maximum award• Jointly financed by federal government, states and

possibly institutions• Calculate negative Expected Family Contribution• Fund “Super Pell Grant” for students from very low

income families

Download this PowerPoint from:

www.postsecondary.org

Email to request PowerPoint from:

tom@postsecondary.org

Contact Information: