November 26, 2014: Education News We're Reading This Week

Posted November 26, 2014 | By Cooke Foundation Staff

The Foundation will be closed the remainder of this week, so our “Friday Roundup” comes to you a bit early. Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26, 2014—Here is what’s new in education news this week.

Two million of the 20 million new college students in 2006 were traditional first-years who came straight from high school. Yet the National Center on Education Statistics found that only 32.8 percent of those students graduated in four years and only 57.2 percent in six. Private institutions fare only a portion better when it comes to college completion, writes SkilledUp.

The New York Times shares the story of College Abacus, the online financial aid tool that has rattled a number of colleges. Many have blocked the organization from accessing data which determines three price estimates for users.

In 2011 Congress made it mandatory for colleges to provide net price calculators determine actual cost. However the Institute for College Access and Success notes that many schools are reluctant to share this helpful tool with prospective students.

Take a look at this national map which measures average student debt by state, brought to you by The Huffington Post.

In light of the news that few wealthy, elite universities are admitting a significant number of low-income students, Grinnell College president Raynard Kington shares his take on why need-blind admission policies are not the surest way to fix the problem.

Another piece in The Chronicle of Higher Education discusses the problem of low-income students being underserved by elite institutions. Not only are few given adequate financial resources to attend top schools, this article argues that high schools are not preparing them to be competitive in the “elite college-application process.”

American Community Survey data shows a significant correlation between those with high education levels and income to those who own a computer and have internet connectivity at home. Check out this Ed Week article to hear more about how having a computer and internet can greatly affect education.

Lastly, Isa Adney, a former Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, was featured in the Dothan Eagle for speaking to students at Wallace Community College.