Notes on the higher education act

Victoria Ludwin:

The federal government’s investment in higher education is now more than $115 billion per year. Today, students owe $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt. The student loan system has become more complicated, rising tuition has far outpaced increases in the cost of living, and the schools that enroll federally aided students too often leave students without a credential of value. Yet, the Higher Education Act has not adapted to address these problems. 

With the start of the new Congress, a host of new and returning committee members and hardworking staffers are back on Capitol Hill. With their return comes the possibility of bipartisan progress on one of the largest, most comprehensive pieces of legislation in higher education — and Arnold Ventures is excited to engage in those discussions. 

At Arnold Ventures, we see the next reauthorization of the Higher Education Act as a moment to shore up measures that create value for students — through more transparency about the outcomes colleges provide to their students, greater accountability for institutions, a better and more efficient student loan system, and the broader use of evidence-based practices to support students as they work to complete their degrees. 

“With huge challenges facing higher education, the need for reform is greater than ever before,” says Vice President of Higher Education Kelly McManus. ​“These priorities for improvements to the Higher Education Act offer common-sense, straightforward solutions to hold institutions accountable for ensuring that students’ and taxpayers’ investments are in high-value programs.”

Here is a look at our biggest priorities as well as our policy agenda.