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This Demos Explainer explores the tension between political support for deficit reduction versus job creation and economic security policies. 

Virginia’s investment in higher education has decreased considerably over the past two decades, and its financial aid programs, though still some of the country’s most expansive, fail to reach many students with financial need.

Connecticut’s investment in higher education has decreased considerably over the past two decades, and its financial aid programs, though still some of the country’s most expansive, fail to reach many students with financial need.

State Higher Education Funding After the Recession

How Higher Education Cuts Undermine the State’s Future Middle Class

While GDP has been steadily increasing, indicating a growing economy, other metrics of progress show a very different picture.

Demos conducted a nationwide survey of low- and middle-income households in early 2012. The findings in this brief summarize the relationship between college costs and credit card debt, and its impact on students and their parents.

If nearly 70 percent of graduates are borrowing, 30 percent (including 35 percent of public college graduates) are not. Who are these students? What type of family or financial resources do they have at their disposal? What are their work habits? In short, what does it take to graduate debt-free these days? This brief answers these questions.

A Policy and Messaging Guide for States to Make Higher Education Affordable Again

Most states have very far to go in making their selective public institutions representative, and thus truly public.

A 50-State Look at Rising College Prices and the New American Student

Comparing Tuition Then and Now At Our Elected Officials' Alma Maters

How a Shared Definition of College Affordability Exposes a Crisis for Low-Income Students

A comprehensive look at how the reality of debt-financed college impacts the whole pipeline of decision-making related to college.

Student loans are treated differently than almost every other form of debt incurred by American households. 

A look at state disinvestment in public higher education

To increase postsecondary success among low- to moderate-income students, we must reform financial aid and provide additional financial supports to help students cover the cost of living expenses.

Access to a post-secondary education is a vital aspect of the American dream, allowing for equality of opportunity and a stable pathway to the middle class for all who are willing to work for it regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.  Higher education not only improves the prospects for the employment and earnings of individuals, but has benefits that feed back into communities and society as a whole, including increases in civic participation and productivity, and preparedness for success in the global economy.  Our shared commitment to these values is reflected

 $1 trillion in outstanding student loan debt will lead to total lifetime wealth loss of $4 trillion for indebted households.