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Report found that an increasing number of students who borrowed to finance their college are dropping out. Those who dropped out were far more likely to default on their loans, had higher unemployment rates and made less money than those who graduated. The trends were more pronounced in the for-profit sector. (Education Sector, February 2012)

Article describes effort by Gates Foundation and HCM Strategists to use student financial aid to provide incentives to help students attain a high-value credential. (Inside Higher Ed, 08/07/12)

Highlights the challenges nontraditional students face to completing college credentials, best practices from states and colleges, and ideas of how the federal government could help, particularly by improving data collection and financial aid. (Advisory Committee on Student Financial Aid Assistance, February 2012)

Summarizes preliminary results from performance-based scholarship programs in Ohio, New York, and New Mexico, in addition to the original results in Louisiana. The results show modest but positive effects on markers of academic progress, including increases in credits earned. (MDRC, May 2012)

Overview of research done by the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University outlining the challenges to significantly increasing degree completion among underrepresented populations. Need for better data, program evaluation and financial aid are the key.

Report from the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy outlining the challenges to increase college completion rates in states. The report calls for improved financial aid, better data, improved program evaluation and innovative strategies to serve at-risk populations.

Study by MDRC looking at the effectiveness of performance based scholarships for low income students.

Governor McDonnell of Virginia proposes $50 million in new funding for higher education to increase access and affordability. The goal of the proposal is to increase the number of degrees in the state by 100,000.

Proposal from WISCAPE to set aside $1,000 per student aside at birth for Wisconsin children that could be used for higher education purposes.

Annual report from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation outlining its efforts to improve Arkansas' college completion rate.

Piece in St. Louis Dispatch story on college completion. Cites data in Missouri.

Set of recommendations to increase number of degrees and certificates by one million at California Community Colleges

New research study by Paul Attewell identifying reasons for noncompletion from higher education. Published in American Educational Research Journal.

Story on how Promise Scholarships that provide free tuition to students who meet academic and other benchmarks are not having great success in higher education.

Brief from American Association of State Colleges and Universities on their assessment of the top 10 higher education issues for state policymakers in 2011

Story in the Denver Post about the recommendation to significantly cut financial aid, with the hope of stabilizing it for the future.

Recommendations from the Governor's Higher Education Funding Task Force include: increasing the number of residents graduating with bachelor's degrees, especially in STEM fields; providing the universities with flexibility to set tuition; expanding financial assistance to low- and middle- income students through private and public strategies; and holding public universities accountable for graduating more students. (Washington Governor's Higher Education Funding Task Force, January 2011)

Story outlining a successful scholarship program for adult students.

Study of the PROMISE or Merit scholarships in West VA that found significant improvements in graduation rates.

Partnering with six community colleges, MDRC developed and evaluated four distinct programs based on the following approaches: financial incentives, reforms in instructional practices, and enhancements in student services. (MDRC, March 2011)