Acquiring some form of postsecondary education allows most Americans to access the fullest array of job and career opportunities, but public discourse is filled with anxiety over issues such as affordability, uneven outcomes and rising student debt, now nearly $1.8 trillion. This crisis likely factors into declining college enrollments, especially among community colleges, posing a challenge to institutions relying on tuition dollars for financial stability. To address these challenges, NCSL’s Executive Committee created the Task Force on Higher Education Affordability and Student Outcomes in 2022. The bipartisan task force of legislators and staff from 32 states aims to assess the national higher education system, articulate federal and state roles, and propose recommendations for improving affordability, raising completion rates and reducing unrepayable student debt. It emphasizes the importance of coordinated efforts between states and the federal government to ensure higher education fulfills its promise, amid bipartisan pressure for increased federal governance and accountability.
This three-part series delves into trends, the state-federal relationship and a state-led strategy to enhance the value of college degrees.