Students increasingly rely on scholarships & grants to cover the cost of college
A new study, How America Pays for College 2016, surveyed nearly 1,600 undergraduate students ages 18-24 and parents of undergraduate students ages 18-24. This survey looked at their attitudes toward college, how much they spent, and the sources they used to pay for it. 97% of American families believe college is an investment in their children’s future, and […]
New report demonstrates earning value of liberal arts degrees in today’s workforce
A new analysis by Burning Glass Technologies, a leading job market analytics firm, surveyed over 500 million job listings. The study confirms findings the firm initially published in 2013: Employers consistently value the “soft skills,” or social/interpersonal skills, that a liberal arts education provides. According to Burning Glass CEO Matthew Sigelman, “the reality is the liberal […]
FAFSA completions up in Utah, down nationwide
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education released data showing that fewer high school seniors nationwide are completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) than last year. During April 2015 to April 2016, FAFSA completion fell 3.2% nationwide. Experts suspect the decline is due to the lack of students not fixing mistakes on their application […]
Within 6 months of graduating, 82% of the bachelor’s degree Class of 2015 were employed or in grad school
The National Association of Colleges and Employers released its annual report diving into the outcomes of college students six months post-graduation. Bachelor’s degree recipients The bachelor’s degree Class of 2015 had a positive year in terms of outcomes as compared to last year’s class. The percent employed improved, a greater percentage continued their education, and starting salaries increased. […]
New report is the latest in recent attention on accrediting bodies
The U.S. Department of Education has released newly-compiled data dashboards on the performance of accrediting agencies, using measures such as graduation and student loan repayment rates at colleges the agencies oversee. The role of accrediting bodies in higher education has received renewed attention in recent years as tuition rates have increased, the proliferation of for-private providers […]
National survey finds 80% of college seniors feel prepared for the workforce
Last week, McGraw-Hill released its third-annual Workforce Readiness Survey, which includes responses from 1,360 current college students across the country (from freshmen to graduate students). These students were asked for their opinion on how they perceive college has prepared them for their future career. Career preparedness 80% of college seniors felt either somewhat or very prepared for a professional career. […]
USHE institutions host STEM summer camps for kids to encourage exploration, creativity
Utah’s public colleges and universities are busy this summer engaging K-12 students with exciting, hands-on, high-tech STEM summer camps. The summer camps encourage students to have fun with science, technology, engineering and math, and build their confidence and ability in these key areas. Girls-only STEM summer camps Many colleges and universities are hosting girls-only STEM camps, […]
USHE encourages kids to dream big at local festival
On June 11, the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) participated in the KSL Read Today Summer Book Festival, which partnered with the Salt Lake City Police Department at the Five-O-Fest. The local festival for youth and their families was held on the plaza of the Public Safety building in downtown Salt Lake City with […]
Myth vs. Reality: How do college graduates fare in the workforce?
Recent headlines reported that for the first time in 130 years, more 18 to 34-year-olds live with parents than with partners. Some have attributed this trend to the lack of job prospects for college graduates, that the value of a college degree is diminishing, or that student debt is a drag on homeownership. Understandably, 18 […]
2015 StepUP READY grantees report on project outcomes
Last Friday, the first cohort of the StepUP READY grantees convened at the USHE offices to share their grant project accomplishments after the first year of implementation. The primary focus of the StepUP READY Grant is to increase the number of Utah students who graduate college-ready and enroll in a post-secondary institution. Each grant project includes a partnership […]
