HCM’s State Policy & Research Director, Stephanie Murphy, delves into the latest update to HCM Strategists’ 2023 typology and policy landscape analysis of recent state investments in short-term credential initiatives across the United States. States continue to embrace skills-based education as a key component of workforce development, with growing bipartisan support. As of November 2024, states have invested more than $5.6 billion in short-term credential pathways.

As we close out 2024, our Partner Martha Snyder and Director Jessica Collis argue that it’s time for a transformation of our higher education system that leans into value, affordability, supports, and accountability to restore the public trust. Read their latest Insight blog for more.

Our State Policy & Research Director, Stephanie Murphy, provides a 2024 update of her 2023 typology and policy landscape analysis of state investments in short-term credential pathways. Her latest analysis shows that over the past year, eight states have established 10 new initiatives. Overall state investments now total $5.6 billion.

Our latest postsecondary finance brief, Beyond Sticker Prices: How States Can Make Postsecondary Education More Affordable, analyzes financial aid programs and affordability-related data in nine states. This analysis, which looked across regions, populations and various financial aid models, illustrates the significant variation in affordability across states, institutions and income brackets.

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Director of State Policy & Finance

Presentation of Financing Futures: 15 Years of Postsecondary Finance

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Director of Career Competitive Learning

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Associate Director of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Director of Advocacy and Change Management

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Partner

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Associate Director

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s CEO & Founding Partner

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Director of Project Management and Client Relations

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Project Administrator

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Partner

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Firm Administrator and Executive Assistant to the Partners

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Senior Advisor

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Director of State Policy and Research

Insights Blog: Five Questions with HCM’s Director of Communications

Strategic data use case study by HCM + The Higher Ed Equity Network