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Is Higher Education Worth It? Perspectives from Full-Time Higher Education Practitioners

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Title: Is Higher Education Worth It? Perspectives from Full-Time Higher Education Practitioners
Language: English
Authors: Z. W. Taylor (ORCID 0000-0002-6085-2729), Elizabeth Rainey, Debra Carter, Allison Maldonado, Patrick Ziegler, Dana George, Karla Weber Wandel
Source: Innovative Higher Education. 2026 51(1):357-386.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 30
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Higher Education, Educational Benefits, Tuition, Economic Climate, Student Loan Programs, Enrollment, Paying for College
DOI: 10.1007/s10755-025-09862-5
ISSN: 0742-5627
1573-1758
Abstract: As the value of higher education has been recently questioned, it is critical to understand how student- and family-facing higher education practitioners view the economic value of higher education, as these practitioners may inform students' perceptions and decisions. Informed by Vroom's expectancy theory (1964), this study engaged with 30 full-time higher education practitioners from student affairs and financial aid units across public and private 2- and 4-year institutions to explore how these practitioners describe the value of higher education. Findings suggest that practitioners view higher education as "worth it," but that high tuition and inflation have posed problems for value propositions and student choice, while student loans may deter enrollment and diminish higher education's affordability, in part supporting the Bennett Hypothesis (1987). Implications for research, policy, and practice are addressed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508437
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Is Higher Education Worth It? Perspectives from Full-Time Higher Education Practitioners
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Z%2E+W%2E+Taylor%22">Z. W. Taylor</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6085-2729">0000-0002-6085-2729</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Rainey%22">Elizabeth Rainey</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Debra+Carter%22">Debra Carter</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Allison+Maldonado%22">Allison Maldonado</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Patrick+Ziegler%22">Patrick Ziegler</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dana+George%22">Dana George</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karla+Weber+Wandel%22">Karla Weber Wandel</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Innovative+Higher+Education%22"><i>Innovative Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 51(1):357-386.
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  Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Benefits%22">Educational Benefits</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tuition%22">Tuition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Climate%22">Economic Climate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Loan+Programs%22">Student Loan Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Enrollment%22">Enrollment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paying+for+College%22">Paying for College</searchLink>
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  Data: As the value of higher education has been recently questioned, it is critical to understand how student- and family-facing higher education practitioners view the economic value of higher education, as these practitioners may inform students' perceptions and decisions. Informed by Vroom's expectancy theory (1964), this study engaged with 30 full-time higher education practitioners from student affairs and financial aid units across public and private 2- and 4-year institutions to explore how these practitioners describe the value of higher education. Findings suggest that practitioners view higher education as "worth it," but that high tuition and inflation have posed problems for value propositions and student choice, while student loans may deter enrollment and diminish higher education's affordability, in part supporting the Bennett Hypothesis (1987). Implications for research, policy, and practice are addressed.
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