The Higher Education team works toward building an affordable and high-quality higher education system that supports economic mobility and racial equity.
A student at Rutgers University attends the 250th anniversary commencement ceremony on May 15, 2016, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (Getty/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
What We're Doing
Improving equity
Our team explores how to reform a higher education system that is failing to adequately serve students of color and other overlooked populations, including adults, student parents, part-time students, veterans, and individuals impacted by the justice system.
Ensuring college is affordable for all students
We call for changes to make college affordable for current and future students and their families. We also work to lift the burden of student debt and fix a troubled student loan repayment system for current and future borrowers.
Ensuring quality and protecting students and taxpayers
We advocate for a system where all colleges and programs offer a path to economic security and make sure their students reach the finish line. We also seek to hold education providers, accreditors, loan servicers, and other actors accountable for their service to students and borrowers.
Bradley D. Custer and Ella Azoulay submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education on the administration of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Eddie Phillips Jr. and Bradley D. Custer outline four steps that would enable community college leaders to meet the needs of justice-impacted students.
4 Ways the Federal Government Can Improve College Campus Safety in States With Lax Gun Laws
As more states pass campus carry laws, Congress and the Biden administration should intervene to protect college students and employees from gun violence.
Comment on FR Doc # 2021-11120 (“Negotiated Rulemaking Committee; Public Hearings”)
CAP's Higher Education team worked with Generation Progress to write a comment letter to the Office of Postsecondary Education on its intent to establish negotiated rule-making committees.
Expanding Access to Higher Education and the Promise It Holds
Marshall Anthony Jr., senior policy analyst for Higher Education at the Center for American Progress, testified on the importance of expanding access to higher education before the House Ways and Means Committee on June 29, 2021.
How a College Accrediting Agency Failed To Protect Students From a Decade of Fraud
For 13 years, an accrediting agency raised concerns about operations at a group of corporate-owned colleges, but it failed to take decisive action to stop the company’s waste and abuse.
3 Ways the Biden Administration Can Give Second Chances to Justice-Impacted College Students
The Biden administration should improve policies around admissions, financial aid, and housing to ensure that people with criminal records have fair opportunities to pursue a college education.
