What would it take to ensure college pays off for everyone? Higher education remains a strong investment, but its economic return is not shared equally.
In this webinar discussion, we dove into key findings and recommendations from our Degrees of Value research series, which examines how college ROI differs by region, race, ethnicity, and sex.
Then, a panel of leaders discussed how ROI data can inform policy, practice, and decision-making:
- Dr. Keith Curry – President/Superintendent, Compton College
- Joshua Jackson – College Advisor, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Dr. Ashish Vaidya – President/CEO, Growing Inland Achievement
- Dr. Su Jin Jez – CEO, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy
- Amanda DeLaRosa (Moderator) – Director of Program and Strategy, College Futures Foundation
Key Takeaways
- College is a strong investment, but the returns are uneven. Most students gain value from college but inequities persist across regions and populations. Closing the gap requires more than access. It demands intentional redesign of pathways, partnerships, and incentive structures.
- Students need clarity on career pathways to make informed choices. Many students arrive at college without educational plans, financial aid, or a clear picture of what career paths require and pay. Connecting students to timely career data early is essential to helping them make decisions that lead to good jobs without unnecessary debt.
- Career readiness is a shared responsibility. Preparing students for the workforce cannot be siloed into a single department, campus, or sector. Employers, K–12 system leaders, community organizations, and institutions must work together to ensure students move from education into meaningful economic opportunity.
- Regional collaboration matters. California’s labor markets are local and regional, and so are the solutions. Partnerships that align around local and regional workforce needs with shared goals, data, and accountability for outcomes are how the state closes equity gaps and builds shared prosperity.
- The evolution of AI demands preparation. Its impact on jobs is still unfolding, but California can decide and shape how AI is leveraged to serve its residents now. Embedding AI literacy and durable skills across disciplines is key to preparing learners for the future of education and work.
Explore key resources from the webinar:
Degrees of Value Research Series
- New: Degrees of Value: College ROI by Region
- Degrees of Value: College ROI by Race, Ethnicity, and Sex
- The ROI Metrics Matrix, a tool for understanding the various ways of measuring college ROI
Related California Competes Resources
- Listening to Learners: Insights on California Students’ Career Preparation
- From Setback to Success: Meeting Comebackers Where They Are
- Los Angeles County 2nd District California Community Colleges Career Ready Initiative (LA2CCC)
- Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians Without a College Degree
- The Public Benefit Finder for California Students
Resources from Compton College
- 2035 Comprehensive Master Plan
- Institutional Set Goals and Dashboard
- ROI and Economic Mobility Framework Initiative
AI and the Future of Work
- AI and Labor Markets: What We Know and Don’t Know – Stanford Digital Economy Lab
- Blog Series on Transforming Education for a Changing Economy – Maria Anguiano
- The AI Transfer and Articulation Infrastructure Network (ATAIN)
