For the next generation of students, the value of college is shaped by a practical set of questions: What will I study? Where will it lead? Can I afford it? And can I see myself there? Drawing on Carnegie’s national study of more than 3,300 students ages 13–18, this session will explore how the next generation of students are thinking about college and the factors influencing their decisions. The findings reveal how students assess the academic experience, what signals value to them, and how those considerations connect to their broader perceptions of college.
The session will also examine how students weigh academics alongside cost, campus experience, belonging, and trust, as well as where they turn for information during the college search. We will highlight differences across student groups, including those who are interested in college and the 51 percent who currently say they are not. Attendees will leave with a clearer view of how the next generation connects academic offerings, outcomes, value, and feasibility, along with questions their institutions can consider as they shape programs, communications, and the broader student experience.
Lynne Bongiovanni, Provost and Dean of Faculty, University of Mount Saint Vincent (NY)
Shankar Prasad, Chief Strategy Officer, Carnegie
Chair/Presenter: Joretta Nelson, Senior Executive Advisor: Strategy & Student Success, Carnegie