Research and Reports
Our latest research, data releases, and analysis on college value, earnings, and economic mobility.
Public Agenda and The HEA Group Partner to Transform Transparency and Economic Mobility in California Higher Education
Public Agenda and The HEA Group announced a two-year collaborative initiative to improve data transparency and economic mobility across California’s higher education landscape.
Understanding the Value of Short-Term Credentials in Colorado
Are certificates worth it, and do they align with Colorado’s future economy? With short-term Pell launching July 1, 2026, HEA Group President Michael Itzkowitz argues Colorado has a real opportunity to boost economic prosperity if it can answer those questions.
Colleges Are Finally Confronting Their Outcomes Data
HEA Group President Michael Itzkowitz argues that colleges have moved through stages resembling the five stages of grief as they confront transparent earnings data, and that once they reach acceptance, they can use it to redesign programs and improve advising.
HEA Group Partners with ACCJC on Strategic Use of Program-Level ROI Data
The HEA Group worked with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) on its new framework showing how program-level outcomes offer a more precise understanding of how fields of study contribute to students’ long-term economic mobility.
Is College Still Worth It? The Harlan Cohen Podcast with Michael Itzkowitz
Harlan Cohen sat down with Michael Itzkowitz, director behind the College Scorecard and founder & president of The HEA Group.
Equity Chat 2.0 with Michael Itzkowitz: Return on Investment in Higher Education
In this episode of Equity Chat 2.0, Dr. Keith Curry sits down with Michael Itzkowitz, a nationally recognized higher education policy expert with more than 15 years of experience inside and outside the federal government.
Why America has lost faith in college and what to do about it
A new op-ed by Michael Itzkowitz argues that our higher education institutions must be willing to demonstrate their value through the transparency and accountability that students, families, taxpayers and our national economy rightfully demand.
“Golden Returns: Which Community Colleges Deliver the Best Economic Outcomes” on The Rant Podcast with Eloy Ortiz Oakley of College Futures Foundation
Season four of the Rant Podcast opens with host Eloy Ortiz Oakley and returning guest Michael Itzkowitz discussing their “Golden Returns” report on which California community colleges and certificate programs deliver the strongest financial returns.
“The New Accountability Era: Michael Itzkowitz On Data, Value, and the OBBB” on CLASP’s The Post “PLUS” Podcast
Michael Itzkowitz, founding director of the College Scorecard and head of The HEA Group, joins CLASP’s podcast to discuss how transparency, ROI, and new federal requirements are reshaping what college means for students, institutions, and the workforce.
Op-Ed: 50 States, 50 Opportunities for Economic Mobility
A new op-ed by Michael Itzkowitz argues that abundant and transparent data, plus best practices, can mean the world to students looking to move up the economic ladder.
Op-Ed: Clamping down on good, publicly available higher education data will send our system into a dark spiral
A new op-ed by Michael Itzkowitz argues that clamping down on good, publicly available higher education data will send our university system and its students down a dark spiral.
Purposeful Pathways: Where Is College Still Worth It?
In this webinar, HEA Group President Michael Itzkowitz joins James Cryan of Willow Education to discuss how to assess and improve ROI at colleges and programs across the United States, and what returns students can expect after completing their program.
The Rant: Podcast with Eloy Ortiz Oakley of College Futures Foundation
Can higher education drive economic mobility for low- and moderate-income learners in California? Michael Itzkowitz joins Eloy Oakley to discuss the findings of his latest report with College Futures Foundation, “California Programs that Pay.”
The Rant: Podcast with Eloy Ortiz Oakley of College Futures Foundation
Michael Itzkowitz joins Eloy Oakley of College Futures Foundation to discuss The HEA Group’s “Golden Opportunities” report, exploring California’s higher education investments and what they mean for students from low- and moderate-income backgrounds.
OTC From the Field: Making Sense of Accountability Metrics in Higher Ed
I joined Justin Draeger, President and CEO, on NASFAA's "Off the Cuff" podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on data and accountability metrics in higher education.