You’re not imagining it, furnishing a dorm room really does cost more this year

Aug 30, 2022
With prices up for everything from airfare to gas to basic necessities, moving to college is more expensive than ever.
According to the National Retail Federation, total back-to-college spending is expected to reach $74 billion this year, reaching a record high.
Mark Makela/Getty Images

Why is college so expensive to begin with?

Aug 24, 2022
In the past fifty years, tuition at both public and private schools has more than tripled, even after accounting for inflation.
Biden recently announced a student loan forgiveness plan, which will forgive up to a certain amount of loans for people who make under $125,000.
Getty Images

Automatic college admissions can be a boon to students and schools alike

Aug 15, 2022
More schools are willing to say: If your grades (and maybe test scores) are good enough, you're in!
Some colleges are opting for a direct admissions approach to accepting students — no college applications required.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

People of color who own small businesses in college towns say it's hard to sell to schools

Aug 15, 2022
Smaller operations report barriers to entering the educational procurement market, a study shows, despite commitments to diversity.
Terryl Calloway runs a small graphics and printing firm in Boston, a short distance from many campuses, but he says it’s been challenging to attract them as customers.
Meredith Nierman / GBH News

Colleges get creative to solve housing insecurity among students

Jul 29, 2022
At the University of Utah, students can live with alumni. One California school is using a parking garage as a stopgap.
A lack of affordable housing can be a barrier to attending college, so schools are trying to find alternatives.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Companies have sprung up to help students with mental health issues navigate college life

Jul 25, 2022
The services provide guidance for students seeking therapists in a new town, applying for test accommodations, and managing medications.
A variety of programs have emerged to help students with mental issues prepare for college.
Getty Images

Massachusetts college eliminates loans and work requirements from student aid

Jun 13, 2022
Might other private colleges follow Williams College's lead?
Daniela Corona stands outside the admissions building where she works as a tour guide at Williams College.
Kirk Carapezza/GBH News

For public good, not for profit.

School counselor on navigating post-high school plans: “There are so many ways to approach this"

Apr 21, 2022
When the counselors at Sheboygan South High School in Wisconsin realized about 50% of their graduates weren't going to college, they put renewed focus on supporting alternative pathways for students.
There’s been a marked drop in college enrollment during the pandemic
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Does college prestige really matter? Maybe.

Apr 14, 2022
Your alma mater's ranking "will mean something, in some places, sometimes," says The New York Times' Ron Lieber.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Hiring based on skills instead of college degrees opens up opportunities for millions

Feb 17, 2022
As the labor market heats up, an increasing number of companies are pledging to change their approach to recruitment.
Degree inflation has made a college education almost mandatory. A hiring process based on skill could be more inclusive, and productive.
Rick Diamond/Getty Images