At a time when state economies are demanding a workforce with higher levels of education, the rising cost of college remains a barrier to college enrollment and degree completion for many students in southern states, particularly for those in lower income groups. Now with the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with declining birth rates and other factors, colleges and universities may find it more challenging than ever to enroll new students and retain current ones.  In turn, a decreased or stagnant enrollment may slow states’ progress toward improving students’ employment outcomes and preparing their workforce to meet the demands of an economy increasingly reliant on new technologies.

This webinar explored the affordability of postsecondary education for families at various income levels as detailed in the recently released SREB state affordability profiles.

Presenters

Stevie L. Lawrence II, Vice President, Postsecondary Education​, SREB

Christiana Datubo-Brown, Research Associate, Educational Data Services, SREB​

Susan Campbell Lounsbury, Director, Educational Data Services, SREB

Recorded on May 6, 2020