Affordability, Access, and Accountability in Higher Education

Why it matters:

Affordability is the central barrier to equitable access in higher ed. David Andrews (UMass Global) and Eloy Ortiz Oakley (College Futures Foundation) unpack what’s broken—and what needs to change.

The big picture:

• More than tuition: Real costs include housing, childcare, transportation, and lost wages.
• Technology + accountability: AI, automation, and back-office efficiencies can lower costs, but only if institutions are held accountable.
• Flexible delivery: Learners want 24/7 access. Rigid, brick-and-mortar schedules no longer work.
• Employers as partners: Skills-based hiring is rising. Companies must help shape and support new education-to-employment pathways.

What’s next:

Both leaders agree; higher ed must redesign around students, not institutions. Flexibility, accountability, and employer engagement will define the next five years.

Bottom line:

Success depends on restoring public confidence by giving learners more agency, transparent value, and clear pathways to opportunity.