In 1965, President Johnson signed the Higher Education Act. At the time, he said that it meant, “that a high school senior anywhere in this great land of ours can apply to any college or any university in any of the 50 States and not be turned away because their family is poor.”
But 53 years later, the promise of an affordable education is out of reach for millions of students. As more of today’s jobs require a higher level of skills, more and more students cannot access higher education or are faced with an unsustainable load of debt. In May, America’s outstanding student loan debt surpassed $1.5 trillion.
Today, 65 percent of all U.S. jobs require some form of education and training beyond high school. While we must find ways to make college more affordable and reduce loan debt, we must also make sure students are able to earn a degree that equips them with the skills they need to make competitive wages and pay off their loans. This means providing better information to students about which institutions will best serve their needs and help them succeed.
As Chair of the Higher Education Caucus in Congress, I am working to ensure students have the tools they need to make informed choices before deciding on a school and a field of study. While in Congress, I have introduced legislation that would require the Department of Education (via the College Navigator website) and all institutions receiving federal student aid dollars to provide a link with up-to-date information on Occupational Employment Statistics, data that shows recent employment trends in major occupations by geographic regions. This information is critical for current and prospective students to properly assess job outlook following graduation.
In addition, the bill would direct the Department of Education to create clear guidelines requiring institutions to report job placement rates, indicating if jobs require post-secondary education and whether the position is paid or unpaid.
If America is to continue leading the world in innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity, we will need to ensure that every student who wants to attain higher education can do so.
Rep. Carson represents the 7th District of Indiana. He is First Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and one of two Muslims in Congress. Rep. Carson sits on the House Intelligence Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Contact Rep. Carson at carson.house.gov/contact.
