At the 2026 Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) Annual Conference, Ithaka S+R’s Bethany Lewis will give a poster presentation focused on a study that analyzed the stated preferences of employers for candidates who have recently earned a bachelor’s degree, using an anonymous online survey of 543 individuals in the US who are currently employed in a position whose primary job responsibilities include recruiting and hiring new employees. The study used logistic regression models to examine how participants perceive in-state and out-of-state online credentials compared to in-person credentials, how the hypothetical candidates’ other skills and experiences affect those perceptions, and how participant demographics moderate effects. This work is part of the NC-SARA project, funded by Joyce and Strada.

The session will take place on Thursday, March 19, at 11:45-1:15pm.