Dive Brief:
- A Gallup and Inside Higher Ed poll shows most college presidents don't think the president's proposed college ratings system will expand access to college and lower its cost.
- President Barack Obama's plan to tie federal financial aid to performance on a federal ratings scale is not a good idea according to 65% of the 675 respondents.
- Those who thought it would be "very effective" at making college more affordable? Just 2%, compared to 32% who voted "somewhat effective" and 59% who felt it wouldn't be effective.
Dive Insight:
Many of the arguments against the plan have been brought up at the public feedback forums hosted by the Department of Education, such as one at Cal State Dominguez Hills in November. Top concerns include colleges feeling the need to push out scores of unprepared graduates to boost their graduation rates (and, thus, their ratings), and the fact that some of the student-level data required might just not be available.
