Contract Open

Estimating Colleges’ Costs for Supporting Student Success

NCEE Evaluation Division Postsecondary, Adult Education, and Choice Studies

Program: Higher Education Act

Award amount: $2,687,354

Awardee:

Development Services Group, Inc., WestEd

Year: 2025

Duration: 4 years 6 months (09/30/2025 - 03/31/2030)

Project type:

Exploration

Contract number: 91990023D0017

Background

Student success is the product of a wide range of activities across an institution, including but not limited to those supported by Higher Education Act (HEA) programs. This study will focus on three categories of institutional costs that support student success: (1) activities related to HEA program requirements, including financial aid; (2) activities in support of institutions’ accreditation; and (3) other institutional support activities, including legal, business, and other requirements and regulatory compliance. Findings will be used by the Department to understand potential efficiencies that, if supported by the Department and implemented by institutions, could maximize their investment in student success.

Project Activities

Research question

What are the different models of institutional response to requirements (e.g., activities, infrastructure, and staffing) and how do they vary by regulation, programmatic area, institution type, and institutional context?
What is the cost of these activities, including the cost of compliance and of accreditation, and how does it vary by institution sector and institutional context?
What opportunities exist for streamlining existing Federal regulations and accreditation requirements in order to maximize student success?

Structured Abstract

Design

A nationally representative sample of institutional leaders will be surveyed to report on their specific activities in which they engage, the financial cost of doing so, and the amount of time spent on each. A time-use survey will also be administered. Results will be disaggregated by institutional sector, program when applicable, and other institutional characteristics.