The Economic Benefits of Closing Postsecondary Completion Gaps, by Julie Ajinkya, Rachel Rivas and Ernie Tedeschi, using national economic modeling to investigate the question: What would happen if we closed postsecondary completion gaps by 2040? Their analysis finds that closing gaps for those furthest from opportunity is not just moral imperative, but an economic one as well.

Our new report, A 2025 Snapshot of Postsecondary Completion Gaps, by Julie Ajinkya and Rachel Rivas, provides a descriptive snapshot of postsecondary completion rates across key demographic groups, shedding light on where the biggest gaps persist for individuals furthest from opportunity.

At HCM Strategists, we believe that when you serve modern learners well, you transform the entire postsecondary system. Today’s so-called “nontraditional” students are, in reality, the new normal, reflecting the need for a broader shift toward flexibility, practical applied learning, and non-linear educational pathways that help today’s students thrive.