Rethinking Higher Education Measurement

Why it matters

The Postsecondary Commission is working to become an accreditor focused on measuring economic outcomes for students – a potentially transformative shift in how we evaluate colleges.

The big picture

• The goal: Create data systems that track whether college actually improves graduate earnings
• Timeline: About 3-4 years remaining in estimated 6-7 year accreditation process
• Key states like Texas and Virginia already have robust data tracking systems

Between the lines

• Innovation in higher ed is “profoundly suppressed” due to institutional inertia
• Some states are reluctant to share economic outcome data for political reasons
• The Pell Grant system is praised as an exemplar of empowering student choice

What’s next

The organization will seek to partner with institutions that are willing to be measured on their economic outcomes once accreditation is achieved.