Mastering out
Some graduate students are “mastering out,” or forgoing completing their Ph.D. program. Instead, students end up receiving a master’s degree in the same field. Only 50% of Ph.D. candidates actually finish their programs. Although there is no national data on how often Ph.D. students master out, this pivoting of degrees occurs more often than we might think. Since the inception of graduate education, Ph.D. programs have been the main focus of higher ed institutions although many “haven’t done very much to think beyond the Ph.D. or people who don’t necessarily need it but are in graduate school anyway.” With the employment demand for those that hold a maters degree projected to grow “by almost 17 % between 2016 and 2026, the fastest of any education level,” there is no wonder why students are making the choice to “master out” of a Ph.D. program and instead “master in” to an MBA.
Source: Inside Higher Ed
Massachusetts higher ed leaders weigh proposal to prevent sudden college closures
Over the past year, multiple private colleges across Massachusetts have been facing shutdowns. Both Mount Ida College in Newton and more recently, Newbury College in Brookline have closed their doors. In January, Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts expressed concern about keeping its doors open.
Acknowledging the recent swell in private institution closures, new policies are being proposed. The prospective regulations “would require colleges to notify students ahead of time if they are in precarious financial health and foresee closing.” Unfortunately, at this time there is no such requirement. The State Board of Higher Education is expected to vote on regulations this Fall, which would ensure institutions are helping students complete their degrees or transfer out before their institution faces closure. Some individuals are concerned that alerting students of an institution’s financial trouble may cause them to immediately transfer out and scare off new enrollees.
Source: Education Dive
Best industries for MBA tuition coverage
As new studies show, many companies are not offering tuition sponsorship for their employees, especially when it comes to obtaining an MBA degree. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, “of the 10,473 MBA grads surveyed from the class of 2018 at 126 universities across the world,” only 35% of students received any sort of tuition coverage from their employers. There are still two industries that provide MBA employment funding. One powerhouse industry is the military, due to veterans possessing “valuable leadership experience that [business schools] seek out.” The second leader in funding is the consulting industry. Many consulting companies find their employees work for 3-4 years, attend grad school with the companies’ financial assistance and return with an MBA under their belt and a promotion to Senior Consultant.
Source: Poets & Quants
Celebrating high-quality community colleges
For over one-third of American undergraduate students, the college journey begins at a community college. Community colleges allow students from low-income families and first-generation students the opportunity to gain a college education and emerge without an enormous amount of debt. Florida’s Miami Dade College and Indian River State College both received a $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Students at these colleges “complete college or transfer to four-year schools at rates that far surpass the national average.” On average, Americans with college degrees earn $1 million more than those who hold a high school diploma. These students are more likely to repay their student debt. These colleges also make sure students of color and low-income students are staying on track, taking the classes they need to obtain a degree. Community colleges offer affordable education and are accepting of everyone, and “as a result, they can deliver broad economic value.”
Source: Diverse Education