research and stats

We are pleased to share the results of the 2016 biennial survey of college parents. The findings of this report are consistent with our prior the two prior research studies and confirms that “college families are an important source of support for increasing student success and college completion.” The 2016 survey of more than 510 College Parents conducted by College Parents of America through internet channels and subscribers in late June of 2016. We have a high degree of confidence that the survey is directionally correct and will be valuable to colleges and universities as well as other stakeholders interested in increasing rates of college completion.

Many years ago we heard a statement that the real job of a parent is to help their children find their purpose. New research from Strada Education Network and Gallup provide new insights into the decision-making surrounding a college education. Given the ever-growing cost of college, this is a timely topic for students and families across the country.

We are pleased to share the results of the 2016 biennial survey of college parents. The findings of this report are consistent with our prior the two prior research studies and confirms that “college families are an important source of support for increasing student success and college completion.” The 2016 survey of more than 510 College Parents conducted by College Parents of America through internet channels and subscribers in late June of 2016. We have a high degree of confidence that the survey is directionally correct and will be valuable to colleges and universities as well as other stakeholders interested in increasing rates of college completion.

  images via Educational Policy Institute Average student debt levels for the graduating 2012 class is up over historical debt levels. In these graphs from the Educational Policy Institute (which relies on data from the Project on Student Debt), one can see both the historical student debt trend as well as the current state of average debt levels for those graduates with debt. Average debt for graduates with debt, predictably, varies by sector:Public: $25,550Private: $32,300Private For-Profit: $39,950

 "Compass" image by Walt Stoneburner, cc license Parents are critical partners and participants in college students' lives. In fact, multiple studies detail the importance of parents in getting students into college, keeping them there and helping them graduate. Today, we're detailing one of the crucial roles that parents play in college students' lives: a role as a guide to college.

Which data source or data sources upon which your rely to make your argument is incredibly important to the validity of tha conclusion. Failing to properly account for why the Federal Reserve data is a shaky source for student loan repayment success significantly undercuts the argument recenly put forth authors at the Brookings Institute that student loan debt rhetoric and the facts don't match up.

  image of NYC library reading room by flickr user MichaelKuhn_pics (cc license) Looking for an early jump on your Sunday paper? College Parents of America recommends that you try these recent stories about higher education.

   "Happy Graduation!" by Gates Foundation, cc license Echoing many previous pieces around the internet, the Cleveland Federal Reserve, too, is letting everyone know that the cost of a college degree is worth it.

    A Michigan State University paper has taken the internet and other media by storm today by laying out the statistical case that gym attendance can boost a college GPA for freshmen and sophomores. 

  "arrow" by flickr user alan berning, cc license  In today's Chronicle of Higher Education, there was a substantive discussion about how costs of books and 'other' college expenses (laundry, entertainment, transportation) are reportedly falling. But who is providing the data behind this reporting? Colleges and universities.