More student or faculty diversity on campus leads to lower racial gaps in graduation rates

College graduation gaps between Black and white students tend to shrink when there are more students of color or faculty of color on campus. This finding is based on analyses of 2,807 four-year U.S. colleges conducted by psychology researcher Nida Denson and me. Our research appeared as a peer-reviewed article in 2022 in Volume 93, Issue 3, of The Journal…

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College graduates are often in the dark when it comes to hiring practices and salaries. Chuck Savage / The Image Bank via Getty Images

College may not be the ‘great equalizer’ − luck and hiring practices also play a role, a sociologist explains

Published: June 26, 2024 2.17pm SAST The idea that a college degree levels the playing field for students of different socioeconomic classes has been bolstered in recent years. Research from 2011 and 2017, for example, found that earning a bachelor’s degree helped students from less advantaged backgrounds do as well as their better-off peers._ Jessi Streib, a sociology…

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Why community college students quit despite being almost finished

Community colleges are designed to make college more accessible, yet 6 out of every 10 community college students cannot reap the full rewards of higher education because they do not earn their degree. For graduates, rewards often include making more money. For society, the reward is citizens who are more likely to vote, volunteer and pay more in taxes. Among community college…

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The truth about for-profit colleges and Trump University

For-profit colleges and institutions like Trump University have garnered significant attention and controversy over the years, raising questions about their educational quality, business practices, and the impact on students. Here’s an in-depth exploration of the truth about for-profit colleges and the specific case of Trump University. Understanding For-Profit Colleges For-profit colleges operate as businesses seeking…

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Most students borrow for college, but are they financially literate?

Many students who borrow for college lack adequate financial literacy, which can have significant implications for their financial well-being both during and after their college years. Here are some key points to consider regarding the financial literacy of college students who borrow: Financial Literacy Challenges Among Borrowing Students Impacts of Low Financial Literacy Addressing Financial…

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3 vital ways to measure how much a university education is worth

Measuring the value of a university education involves assessing various factors that contribute to its impact on individuals and society. Here are three vital ways to gauge the worth of a university education: 1. Economic Outcomes 1.1. Earnings and Employment Rates 1.2. Return on Investment (ROI) 2. Personal Development and Well-being 2.1. Career Advancement Opportunities…

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22 percent of men without college don’t have jobs. Here’s why they’re being left behind

The issue of unemployment among men without college degrees is a complex and multifaceted problem with several underlying factors contributing to their marginalized economic status. Here’s an exploration of the reasons why a significant portion of this demographic is facing joblessness and the broader implications of this trend: 1. Structural Economic Changes Shifts in Job…

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