Topic: Postsecondary value
Blog Post
May 11, 2026
The State of the Humanities in Higher Education
New Insights from Department Chairs
Last year, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences engaged Ithaka S+R to conduct research on the state of the humanities in higher education. My colleagues Chelsea McCracken and Claire Baytaş led a series of focus groups with humanities department chairs to learn how they are adapting to the current climate of retrenchment and technological change. These focus groups yielded information about the perceived value of the humanities, efforts to promote student enrollment, the implications of AI for humanities teaching,…
Blog Post
May 7, 2026
Employers’ Perceptions of Online Credentials
Findings from a New Report
With support from the Joyce Foundation and Strada Education Foundation, Ithaka S+R conducted what is, to our knowledge, the first causal study of how employers value online degrees from out-of-state institutions. The primary objectives of our research were to compare employer evaluations of job candidates who earned a bachelor’s degree online with those who earned a bachelor’s degree in person, and to assess whether and to what extent those evaluations varied depending on whether the degree-granting institution was in- or…
Research Report
May 7, 2026
Examining Employers’ Perceptions of Online Credentials
A Discrete Choice Experiment
In this study, supported by Strada Education Foundation and the Joyce Foundation, we conduct a discrete choice experiment with professional recruiters and hiring managers to better understand how they respond to online credentials, including those earned from out-of-state institutions.[9] Our research asks whether employers prefer hypothetical job applicants with in-person degrees compared to online degrees, if this preference differs based on whether the degree was earned from an in- or out-of-state institution, and how these preferences may vary by other…
Past Event
May 5, 2026
Strengthening and Aligning Governing Boards
On May 5 at 3:30pm-5:00pm ET, Ithaka S+R’s Martin Kurzweil and Catharine Hill will participate in a virtual workshop hosted by AASCU and designed for leaders of regional public universities. Other speakers include Brian O. Hemphill, Doug Lederman, and Charles L. Welch. Learn more. …
Blog Post
April 13, 2026
Measuring the Economic and Civic Value of the Humanities Workforce
Announcing a New Project
Today’s students increasingly see higher education as a vehicle to employment, and colleges and universities have a responsibility to ensure that graduates are well-positioned to meet their career goals. Too often, however, the measure of whether colleges are meeting that responsibility is reduced to a single number—students’ early career earnings. The reality is more complicated, and taking a broader, longer-term view is essential: outcomes like career adaptability, lifetime earnings, civic engagement, and even personal fulfillment all matter, too.
Blog Post
March 26, 2026
Postsecondary Value & Public Trust
Introducing a New Program Area at Ithaka S+R
Building on a decade or more of research and practice, we recently formed a new program area, Postsecondary Value & Public Trust. This program advances the economic, social, and civic value of postsecondary education. We partner with state agencies, build networks of institutions, and collaborate with field leaders to improve affordability, strengthen workforce alignment, and maximize value, all key levers in rebuilding public trust in higher education.
Blog Post
March 11, 2026
Expanding Access. Improving Outcomes. Advancing Knowledge.
A Message from Ithaka S+R's New Managing Director
At Ithaka S+R, we work with leaders and policymakers to expand access to postsecondary education, improve student and workforce outcomes, and strengthen the systems that sustain scholarship and knowledge creation. We do this by providing strategic advice, conducting rigorous research, evaluating initiatives, and developing and sustaining nonprofit tools and services.
Blog Post
February 12, 2026
Accreditation, Outcomes, and Accountability
What We Learned from a Multi-Year Research Project
Ithaka S+R is publishing four reports, funded by Arnold Ventures, that examine the extent to which accreditor standards and interventions influence institutional performance, particularly as reflected in students’ outcomes. These reports provide concrete examples of how accreditors articulate expectations in their written standards, use data in monitoring institutions, communicate performance concerns through Commission Action Letters, and understand their responsibilities in the federal recognition process.
Issue Brief
February 12, 2026
Improving Oversight in Higher Education
Policy Recommendations on Accreditation
Accreditation is a central feature of higher education quality assurance in the United States, but historically, much of the process has operated out of public view and within a statutory framework that has not changed much in recent years. Declining public trust in higher education and questions about its value, however, have resulted in greater public and political scrutiny of the performance of colleges and universities.
Research Report
February 12, 2026
What Commission Action Letters Reveal
A Thematic Analysis of WSCUC Decisions (2012–2024)
In the United States, quality assurance is directly tied to the accreditation process. By analyzing the decisions that accreditors record in their formal action letters, we can identify the most common issues that institutions face and the priorities that shape accreditors’ decisions.
Research Report
February 12, 2026
Regional Accreditation Standards
A New Framework for Comparison
Accreditation is an important aspect of higher education, yet its processes and impacts remain largely opaque to the public. This research project aims to systematically analyze accreditation standards from each of the major US accreditors as well as offer insights into how these criteria influence student success and post-graduation outcomes.
Research Report
February 12, 2026
Understanding the Impact of Data-Driven Accreditor Practices on Student Outcomes
This paper examines whether the adoption of data-driven practices by the seven former regional accreditors is associated with measurable changes in student outcomes. We document when accreditors introduced four observable practices—public dashboards, public-facing reports, peer benchmarking policies, and internal dashboards—and compare the onset of those practices with resulting changes in student outcomes.
Blog Post
December 15, 2025
Announcing New Leadership for Ithaka S+R
After nine years of bold leadership, Catharine Bond Hill transitions to senior advisor; Martin Kurzweil becomes managing director on January 1, 2026.
I’m excited to announce a leadership transition that sets the stage for Ithaka S+R’s next era of impact. On December 31, 2025, Catharine (“Cappy”) Bond Hill will step down as managing director after nine transformative years. On January 1, 2026, Martin Kurzweil, currently vice president at Ithaka S+R, will assume the role of managing director.
Research Report
November 12, 2025
State Uses of IPEDS Data
Insights for Strengthening the National Postsecondary Education Data Infrastructure
In collaboration with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), and with support from Lumina Foundation, we explored how state higher education agencies use data from IPEDS, the challenges they encounter, and their perspectives on the future of the federal postsecondary education data collection. In this report, we share our findings from a national survey as well as interviews with 14 SHEEO leaders, including directors and specialists in research, data, and analysis, as well as several senior executives and…
Blog Post
November 4, 2025
The Liberal Arts in Challenging Times
Webinar Recording
Last month, I had the opportunity to take part in “The Liberal Arts in Challenging Times,” a webinar that explored the value of a liberal arts and sciences education and strategies for strengthening it across the higher education sector. As part of the session, I highlighted key findings from our recent report, Measuring the Economic Value of a Liberal Education, and suggested some ways to conceptualize what a “liberal education” encompasses, its impact on civic engagement and career adaptability,…
Blog Post
September 25, 2025
More Than a Major
Defining the Features of a Liberal Education
Prior research on the value of a liberal arts and sciences education has traditionally relied on two proxies for whether students receive a liberal education: what they majored in or what type of institution they attended. We contend that this view is limited. Rather than assume that major and institutional type are adequate proxies, our 2020 research led us to develop a clearer, more comprehensive definition and measure of a liberal education.
Past Event
October 22, 2025
The Liberal Arts in Challenging Times
Join us for a conversation on the future of the liberal arts in today’s uncertain and challenging times, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET. Hear from leaders in higher education as they discuss the value of a liberal arts education and strategies for strengthening it across the higher education sector. Register today Catharine Bond Hill, managing director of Ithaka S+R and former president of Vassar College, will…
Blog Post
July 16, 2025
Introducing the LASEE Framework
Quantifying Students’ Exposure to a Liberal Education and Exploring its Value
Ithaka S+R, supported by the Mellon Foundation, has been working since 2019 to clearly define, measure, and communicate the value of a liberal education, an effort that has become increasingly urgent in the current political landscape and climate. Today, we are excited to share a new report and accompanying resources from our latest study examining the economic value of a liberal education.
Research Report
July 16, 2025
Measuring the Economic Value of a Liberal Education
This report offers a nuanced, student-centered perspective on the economic and educational value of a liberal education. Using the Liberal Arts and Sciences Educational Experience (LASEE) Framework and rich, longitudinal student-level data from public colleges and universities, we examined how exposure to core liberal arts features relates to student outcomes.
Blog Post
June 24, 2025
Understanding the Federal Role in Higher Education Accreditation
In early June, the US Department of Education (ED) notified Columbia University’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), that Columbia had violated federal antidiscrimination laws. The announcement sparked a wave of strong reactions and discussions about the motivation of such a move. In response, we started to receive questions about what this could mean for Columbia University and for higher education more broadly. Since college accreditation rarely receives this level of public attention, many people, even…