Affordability Commission
Commission on College Affordability in the South
How do state financing policies impact affordability? What kinds of policy changes can improve both affordability and college completion?
The Southern Regional
Education Board Commission on College Affordability in the South
focused on aligning state policies toward the goal of
affordability for students and families. The Commission
met during 2014 and 2015 and published reports and
recommendations in 2016.
A Critical Factor in Both Access and Completion
“For states to reach their goals for postsecondary attainment, we need more students to go to college and more to complete,” said SREB President Dave Spence. “Affordability is a critical factor in both access and completion.”
Members of the SREB Commission on College Affordability in the South
Members represented all 16 SREB states and included state legislators, state higher education leaders and presidents of colleges and universities.
Shared Responsibility for College Affordability
Report of the SREB Commission on College Affordability in the South
The Commission offers eight policy recommendations for affordability, grounded in a shared responsibility model where states, families, colleges and the federal government each play a role. The report charts trends and data on educational attainment, workforce needs, student diversity, family income, student debt, higher ed funding, tuition, net price, financial aid and more. An appendix offers questions to help states begin reviews of their policies and practices.
College Affordability
Promising State Policies and Practices
This report explores promising or innovative state programs that aim to improve college affordability and credential attainment — and bear watching to see if they result in meaningful outcomes. Prepared for SREB’s Commission on College Affordability in the South.
A Statewide Framework
College Affordability Policy and Practice Review
The SREB Commission on College Affordability in the South recommended that states review affordability policies for capacity to make postsecondary education more affordable for students and families. This framework outlines, in checklist form, questions to guide the review. Questions cover governance, aligning policies toward affordability, tuition policy, need-based student financial aid, student debt, investing in innovation, and shared responsibility among states, agencies, institutions and families.
