Postsecondary Education & Economics Research Center
@peerresearch.bsky.social
Research center focused on generating actionable research to improve #highered policy. RTs/follows are not endorsements. Check out our site at peer-center.org!
Full report here: www.peer-center.org/research/ali.... Check it out! 8/8
Accountability for All Programs: Aligning America’s Outcomes-Based Standards — PEER Center
For more than a decade, higher education policymakers have contemplated ways to hold postsecondary education programs responsible for ensuring adequate outcomes of their graduates. The most significan...
www.peer-center.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Full report here: www.peer-center.org/research/ali.... Check it out! 8/8
One thing is clear: OBBBA left major gaps in the accountability landscape, most egregiously by excluding undergraduate certificate programs. With #negreg starting next week, @usdeptofed.bsky.social should ensure that all programs face consequences for poor outcomes and wasted taxpayer $. 7/
December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
One thing is clear: OBBBA left major gaps in the accountability landscape, most egregiously by excluding undergraduate certificate programs. With #negreg starting next week, @usdeptofed.bsky.social should ensure that all programs face consequences for poor outcomes and wasted taxpayer $. 7/
One more: Match the earnings test from OBBBA in GE, and drop the debt-to-earnings test. @PeerResearch actually wrote a whole separate report about what that would mean: www.peer-center.org/research/how.... It provides accountability where needed most, but removes some key protections. 6/
December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
One more: Match the earnings test from OBBBA in GE, and drop the debt-to-earnings test. @PeerResearch actually wrote a whole separate report about what that would mean: www.peer-center.org/research/how.... It provides accountability where needed most, but removes some key protections. 6/
Another option: Match the earnings test from OBBBA in GE, but retain a debt-to-earnings standard, too (and align the measurement of earnings across them). About 130,000 students annually are in GE programs that pass OBBBA, but fail this debt-to-earnings standard. 5/
December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Another option: Match the earnings test from OBBBA in GE, but retain a debt-to-earnings standard, too (and align the measurement of earnings across them). About 130,000 students annually are in GE programs that pass OBBBA, but fail this debt-to-earnings standard. 5/
One option: Keep GE as-is. This does the most of any option we looked at to protect students from low-earnings programs and unaffordable-debt programs. (NB: Unaffordable debt includes both private and federal loans -- so still needed even with new federal grad loan limits). 4/
December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
One option: Keep GE as-is. This does the most of any option we looked at to protect students from low-earnings programs and unaffordable-debt programs. (NB: Unaffordable debt includes both private and federal loans -- so still needed even with new federal grad loan limits). 4/
Students in undergrad certificates, though, enroll more than *half* of federally aided students with median earnings below the new earnings standard (and only 8% overall).
Without GE, fewer students would end up protected from low-value programs post-OBBBA than before it.
3/
Without GE, fewer students would end up protected from low-value programs post-OBBBA than before it.
3/
December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Students in undergrad certificates, though, enroll more than *half* of federally aided students with median earnings below the new earnings standard (and only 8% overall).
Without GE, fewer students would end up protected from low-value programs post-OBBBA than before it.
3/
Without GE, fewer students would end up protected from low-value programs post-OBBBA than before it.
3/
The reconciliation law (OBBBA) passed this year by Congressional Republicans broadened accountability -- but left out undergrad certificate programs (other than Workforce Pell ones). Without gainful employment rules, that is the sole sector not subject to accountability. 2/
December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The reconciliation law (OBBBA) passed this year by Congressional Republicans broadened accountability -- but left out undergrad certificate programs (other than Workforce Pell ones). Without gainful employment rules, that is the sole sector not subject to accountability. 2/
Reposted by Postsecondary Education & Economics Research Center
@peerresearch.bsky.social's @jdmatsudaira.bsky.social has looked at the current borrowing levels across fields of study. Check out the attached (green dots for fields that fall in the new definition) for more on the average annual borrowing of the largest professional fields today. 2/
November 6, 2025 at 7:46 PM
@peerresearch.bsky.social's @jdmatsudaira.bsky.social has looked at the current borrowing levels across fields of study. Check out the attached (green dots for fields that fall in the new definition) for more on the average annual borrowing of the largest professional fields today. 2/
AND we're looking for a Research Associate to engage in rapid-response analysis for state and federal policy development. american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
Research Associate - PEER Center
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meani...
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
AND we're looking for a Research Associate to engage in rapid-response analysis for state and federal policy development. american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
We're looking for a Senior Research Associate to conduct and manage long-term research projects for PEER, working with state and federal administrative data. american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...
Senior Research Associate - PEER Center
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meani...
american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
We're looking for a Senior Research Associate to conduct and manage long-term research projects for PEER, working with state and federal administrative data. american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-...