Dive Brief:
- A new bill proposed by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) calls for the creation of a national database to help students learn more about their school’s performance before committing their attendance.
- The Chronicle of Higher Education recorded an interview with Wyden where he explained the database would include information about graduation rates, debt levels, remedial education, and earnings — how much they’re likely to earn right out of school, five years in, and long-term.
- States that are already creating such databases can continue their work, but Wyden said the national data warehouse will give mobile students greater access.
Dive Insight:
There is a lot of talk in Congress right now about data collection and consumer advocacy for students. As the nation struggles with more than $1 trillion in student loan debt and new online and alternative colleges open all the time, elected officials are working to help students make smart decisions about higher education. The database would give students information admissions officers do not disclose, and it would help them think about their post-secondary plans more practically. This bill is new to the federal docket, however, and there’s no saying how long it might take to pass it and then create the database.