Our newest policy brief outlines a framework that provides nonpartisan principles and guiding questions to help states make thoughtful, student-centered funding decisions in an uncertain and challenging environment. Designed for policymakers as well as institutions and advocates, it can be used to assess current budget proposals and, over time, support more sustainable investments and a stronger vision for higher education finance.

Our State Policy & Research Director, Stephanie Murphy, provides a 2025 update, our most comprehensive update to date, to HCM’s typology and policy landscape analysis of state investments in short-term credential pathways (originally published in 2023 and updated previously in 2024). Her latest analysis shows that overall state investments now cumulatively total at least $8.1 billion.

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.

Presentation of Financing Futures: 15 Years of Postsecondary Finance

One day in and March Madness has ensued, already proving why it is one of the best sports events of the year. Filling out the bracket. Pulling for the underdog. Buzzer beaters. The nearly 10 years of a spotless record against my dear husband. I love it all.