Episode 41: Is College a Risky Investment? An Economist Weighs In

Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq are joined by Beth Akers, an economist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss the debate over the cost of college and what policymakers, students, and parents should be considering when it comes to investing in postsecondary education. But first, Mushtaq explains why higher education leaders should be concerned about voting rights challenges, Sarah explains all you need to know about CFIUS (The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) and Jon talks about what higher ed thinks of President Biden’s nominee for under secretary of education, James Kvaal. **Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or podcast@acenet.edu. EPISODE NOTES Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: Statement on Voting Rights by Higher Education ACE Letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Strategic Competition Act RE: Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) ACE Hearing: “The Student Debt Burden and Its Impact on Racial Justice, Borrowers, & The Economy” The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Hearing Letter to HELP Committee Leadership in Support of the Nomination of James Kvaal ACE Beth Akers—Bio American Enterprise Institute Making College Pay: An Economist Explains How to Make a Smart Bet on Higher Education Beth Akers You Want Free Community College—Do It With a Pell Grant Expansion Beth Akers, The Hill LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Google Play Music Google Podcasts iHeartRadio Radio.com app Spotify Stitcher TuneIn Amazon Music ABOUT THE SHOW Each episode of dotEDU presents a deep dive into a major public policy issue impacting college campuses and students across the country. Hosts from ACE are joined by guest experts to lead you through thought-provoking conversations on topics such as campus free speech, diversity in admissions, college costs and affordability, and more. Find all episodes of the podcast at the dotEDU page. Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or email podcast@acenet.edu. HOSTS Jon Fansmith is a director of government relations at ACE. He represents ACE and its members on matters related to the federal budget and appropriations process, with a particular focus on student aid. Mushtaq Gunja serves as vice president and chief of staff at ACE, where he is in charge of strategic initiatives, communications, and membership. Sarah Spreitzer is a director of government relations at ACE. She represents ACE and its members on matters related to research policy and funding, federal policy, international students, immigration, and legislative issues.