Institute For Higher Education Policy

Evidence-based completion higher education can be a pathway to economic security, social mobility and society-wide value if students earn a degree or credential. Ihep promotes evidence-based pathways to completion for today's students by identifying barriers to completion and degree attainment, examining innovative and effective approaches at the institutional, state, and federal levels to promote completion, and working with policymakers and practitioners to advance strategies and policies that support students as they complete their studies. Ihep works to support knowledge building and scaling of data-driven strategies that improve completion.

Need-based aid need-based aid does more than make college more affordable - it makes college possible for today's students. We promote affordable postsecondary education by: identifying financial challenges and examining innovative solutions; calling to protect and increase need-based aid at the federal, state, and institutional levels; and working with policymakers and practitioners to prioritize need-based investment in students. We focus squarely on enhancing support for students living with low and moderate incomes, including through pell grants, and funding to support non-tuition costs that include basic needs such as food and housing.

Strong outcomes for all students all institutions and programs should deliver value to students. Drawing from our postsecondary value framework, we evaluate novel approaches to assess the economic returns students receive for their postsecondary investment and cultivate support for comprehensive reform that incentivizes and supports improvement, especially among programs that persistently deliver a low return on investment.

College admissions years of admissions policies have left black, latinx, american indian and alaska native students, and students from low-income backgrounds underrepresented at the nation's selective institutions. Ihep researches recruitment, admissions, and enrollment policies and practices. We build field support for the positive impacts of a diverse campus to encourage institutions to implement strategies that help more students access postsecondary education.