College Promise Programs in the Midwest: Insights for Higher Education Leaders
A look at the features that distinguish college promise programs from traditional grant aid programs plus a view of promise programs in the 12 Midwestern states
MHEC supports member states through critical data and applied research.
MHEC produces research and analysis that helps state policymakers and institutional leaders strengthen postsecondary education systems across the Midwest and beyond. Research publications address in the following areas:
- Affordability and Finance: Insights into how state funding and financial aid shape college access, affordability, and completion.
- Readiness and Success: Research on strategies that improve academic preparation, student engagement, and degree completion.
- Pathways and Workforce: Analysis focused on strengthening the education-to-workforce pipeline, addressing critical workforce shortages, and equipping individuals with skills for a changing economy.
- Data and Performance: Research that provides trend data and performance indicators to assess the condition of state P–16 systems and support continuous improvement.
State Performance Updates
A supplement to the Higher Education in Focus 2019, providing the latest data related to education attainment for each MHEC state.
Service-Contingent Financial Aid: Exploring State Loan Forgiveness and Conditional Grant Programs
A report examining state-funded loan forgiveness and conditional grant programs, designed to alleviate student loan debt and address workforce shortages.
Student Records Access for Success
A discussion of the evolving landscape of student record access and its impact on educational success, with emphasis on the importance of student transcripts.
Out-of-State Tuition Premiums at Public Four-Year Institutions: Trends and Impacts
A look at the impact of out-of-state tuition premiums and an outline of regional approaches to reducing premiums.
State Funding Approaches for Public Colleges and Universities in the Midwest
A look at how Midwestern states allocate funding to public colleges and universities, the tradeoffs of approaches, the effects of different funding mechanisms.
The Effect of State Appropriations on College Graduation Rates of Diverse Students
An examination of whether state funding for higher education are associated with college graduation rates based on freshman cohorts at most public four-year institutions in the U.S.
Projections of Postsecondary Education in Illinois
A report on state-level projections of postsecondary enrollment, credential production, and the college-educated population to inform the Illinois strategy.
The Digital Divide Among College Students: Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Emergency Transition
An analysis of the digital divide on college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts of institutions and state legislation to bridging the divide.
College Student Debt: What State and Institutional Leaders Should Know
A look at student borrowing over time, differences among demographic groups, and policy initiatives that might help students who need more support.
Higher Education in Focus
A report on key performance indicators for evaluating educational systems in MHEC member states.
Evaluating State Funding Effort for Higher Education
An analysis of higher education spending relative to personal income, population, and total tax revenue.
State Grant Aid: An Overview of Programs and Recent Research
An overview of state grant programs and whether they are the primary form of financial aid awarded by states in the Midwest.
Student Loan Interest Rates: A Survey of Federal, State, and Private Programs
A policy brief examining the changes in federal student loan interest rates over time, the wide variation in interest rates for state-sponsored student loans, and rates for private loans.
College Textbook Affordability: Landscape, Evidence, and Policy Directions
A report on the ongoing escalation of college textbook costs and the benefits and challenges of more affordable options.
Drivers of the Rising Price of a College Education
A brief examining the root causes of tuition increases in higher education, including rising costs, declining subsidies, and an increased reliance on tuition discounting.
Increasing the Supply of Qualified Teachers for Dual Enrollment Programs
A report exploring policy options and strategies for bolstering graduate education programs and encourage high school teachers to complete relevant graduate coursework.
Children’s Savings Accounts: Increasing the Postsecondary Payoff for Low-Income Children
A policy brief on the attributes and prevalence of Child Savings Accounts across the national and their potential effects on the education pipeline.
Indicators of Educational Quality for Postsecondary Accountability Systems
A chapter from "Assessing Quality in Postsecondary Education" on indicators used to evaluate educational quality.
Tuition Control Policies: A Challenging Approach to College Affordability
An examination of the various ways that states attempt to limit tuition and fee increases at colleges and universities.
A Review of College Promise Programs: Evidence from the Midwest
A brief detailing the effects of three well-known college promise programs in the Midwest and considerations when designing promise programs.
Measuring Institutional Effectiveness and Efficiency
Several research reports elaborating statistical methods for measuring the extent to which institutions are effective and efficient in facilitating degree completion.
The Impact of Graduate Education on Teacher Effectiveness: Does a Master’s Degree Matter?
An examination of the prevalence of graduate degrees among teachers in the U.S.
The Relative Effectiveness of Traditional and Alternative Teacher Preparation Programs: A Review of Recent Research
A brief reviewing research on the effects of teacher certification and preparation programs in relation to student performance and teacher outcomes.
The Effectiveness of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification Program
A review of research on the relationship between NBPTS certification and teacher outcomes and student achievement.
State Higher Education Financing Models
A brief addressing four areas in which state policymakers can learn to strengthen higher education financing systems from practices in other states and from sound public policy design.
Counseling Services
A research brief on mental health issues and counseling services on college campuses.
Software Solutions
An overview of student success software and findings from the nascent body of student outcomes research.
The Effectiveness and Efficiency of Postsecondary Institutions in the United States: 2010-2012 Baseline Results
A brief summarizing the findings of working papers on timely degree completion.