College Costs

Lumina Foundation's Making Opportunity Affordable initiative aims to create a national dialogue on the rising cost of college, an issue that threatens to close the doors of college opportunity to thousands of prospective students across America. To help generate constructive ideas for solutions, Lumina Foundation has produced a series of publications addressing this issue.

Seeking solutions: A gathering at the summit Read a journalistic account of the national summit on college costs proceedings held on Nov. 2, 2005, in Washington D.C. (March 2006)

Focused feedback: Highlights from our evaluation of the College Costs summit Review constructive feedback from attendees to the November 2, 2005 national College Costs summit. (March 2006)

Course corrections: Experts offer solutions to the college cost crisis Read a compilation of papers from higher education experts responding to the rising cost of a college education. (October 2005)

Collision course: Rising college costs threaten America's future and require shared solutions Get essential background information on the rising costs of college and potential strategies to consider in addressing this issue. (July 2004)

Synopsis

Each of these eight- to 12-page periodicals offers a brief report on a Foundation research topic.

Early Exit: Understanding Adult Attrition in Accelerated and Traditional Postsecondary Programs PDF by Raymond J. Wlodkowski, Jennifer E. Mauldin and Scott Campbell, the Center for the Study of Accelerated Learning, School for Professional Studies, Regis University—This paper, a follow-up to a longer Foundation report titled "Learning in the Fast Lane," identifies factors that influence adult learners to leave college and offers recommendations to the institutions that serve these students. (July 2002)

Student Loan Forbearance and its Relationship to Default PDF by Derek V. Price, former director of higher education research at Lumina Foundation for Education—As the number and volume of student loans increase, lenders and policy-makers are looking closely at the effects of forbearance on default rates. This report examines that relationship by tracking more than 9,800 loans, all in forbearance in December 1996. (November 2001)

Designing a State Student Grant Program: A Framework for Policy-Makers PDF by Jerry S. Davis, vice president for Research at Lumina Foundation for Education—Economic trends and recent events in higher education have focused new attention on states' student aid programs and policies. This report can serve as a primer for policy-makers who are considering changing their grant programs or designing new ones. (September 2001)

Financial-Aid Policies and Practices at Medical and Dental Schools: Current Trends and Future Concerns PDF by Kenneth E. Redd, director of higher education research at the USA Group Foundation—Most students at medical and dental schools leave their institutions with large amounts of student loan debt. This report highlights the financial aid policies and procedures used in health professions programs. (July 2000)

Top Ten Trends in Enrollment Management PDF by Tracy L. Wolff and Peter Bryant at Noel-Levitz—Colleges and universities are using technology and innovative strategies to manage enrollment. Learn more about top trends in enrollment management. (May 1999)

White Papers

From time to time, Lumina Foundation staff will commission or write white papers on topics important to higher education access.

Setting Educational Priorities: High Achievers Speak Out PDF by Robert C. Dickeson, senior vice president for higher education policy, research and evaluation at Lumina Foundation—Top central Indiana high school seniors reveal key insights into issues facing Indiana's educational system. These students focus on one of the most important factors affecting quality education in Indiana: teachers. (April 2001)

Reforming Education In Indiana: High Achievers Speak Out PDF by Robert C. Dickeson, senior vice president for higher education policy, research and evaluation at Lumina Foundation—Top-ranking central Indiana high school seniors reveal their ideas to improve Indiana's education system. Read the enlightening results. (March 2000)

Plugging the Leaks in Indiana's Education Pipeline: High Achievers Speak Out PDF by Robert C. Dickeson, senior vice president for higher education policy, research and evaluation at Lumina Foundation—Despite steady progress in the past 10 years in the number of Indiana high school graduates pursuing a postsecondary education, Indiana adults remain among the least-educated Americans in the nation. This white paper summarizes the key elements of the overall "brain drain" problem in Indiana. (March 1999)

Books

This section includes books and other publications written by Foundation staff.

Prioritizing Academic Programs and Services: Reallocating Resources to Achieve Strategic Balance/ by Robert C. Dickeson, the Foundation's senior vice president for higher education policy, research and evaluation, and published by Jossey-Bass (1999)

If you are unable to download any of these items, please e-mail us to request a printed copy. (In your e-mail, please include your name and mailing address and the title of the publication you are requesting.)