Articles from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce

Significant investment in postsecondary education and training is necessary to avoid critical skills shortages, particularly in light of current immigration policies.

Projected certificates and associate’s degrees shortages present substantial opportunity for men and women of all races/ethnicities to earn credentials that align with high-paying middle-skills occupations.

Washington, DC, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American public is inundated with mixed messages regarding the value of postsecondary education. In an effort to provide better information on the value of colleges, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) has updated its frequently cited return on investment (ROI) data tool. The revised online tool lists the ROI of all postsecondary institutions included in the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

Nationwide shortages are expected in blue-collar, management, protective services, and STEM occupations.

Good jobs in the US will grow to 87.8 million by 2031, up 21% from 2021.

Four years after completing their JD, law school graduates owe almost $120,000 in student loans at the median.

In half of local labor markets nationwide, at least 50% of these credentials would need to be granted in different fields of study to fully align middle-skills credential production and projected labor demand.

American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latino Students Remain Underrepresented in Selective College Enrollment Relative to Their Share of the College-Age Population.

Rural America has a strong blue-collar economy, but it needs more investment in postsecondary education, training, and career counseling.

Rising college attainment benefited all racial/ethnic groups but has done little to close equity gaps.

The US is projected to have 171 million jobs in 2031, compared to 155 million in 2021.

Selective colleges’ enrollments will not reflect the diversity of American society without sweeping measures to equalize college preparation and educational opportunity

Some pathway changes involve increasing educational attainment, and others replace or combine classroom learning with on-the-job learning

Class-conscious alternatives could allow selective colleges to partially claw back their current levels of diversity in some cases

Communication and journalism majors earn a median of $39,700 net of debt three years after graduation, ranking 14th out of 34 majors