Featured Work: The EdValue Collaborative

Higher education is facing a defining moment. Consumer confidence is eroding as skepticism about the return on investment in a college degree continues to grow. With student loan debt exceeding $1.7 trillion and nearly half of recent graduates underemployed, students and families are questioning whether higher education delivers on its promise of economic mobility. At the same time, a looming demographic cliff threatens enrollment numbers, putting additional financial pressure on institutions and raising concerns about how states and systems will meet future workforce needs.

Compounding these challenges is a growing disconnect between higher education and labor market demands. By 2031, nearly three-quarters of jobs will require some form of postsecondary education, yet many graduates find themselves lacking the skills necessary to secure high-wage, high-demand employment. Without better alignment between educational programs and workforce needs, this gap will continue to widen, exacerbating both employer shortages and public skepticism about the value of higher education.

ESG is at the forefront of efforts to help states and institutions define and measure the true value of higher education. We work alongside policymakers and education leaders to refine attainment goals, improve data systems, and establish frameworks that assess long-term student success and economic outcomes. As many states prepare to update their attainment goals beyond 2025, there is an urgent opportunity to incorporate more comprehensive value-driven metrics that restore public confidence, address demographic challenges, and ensure that higher education remains a critical engine of economic opportunity.

The EdValue Community of Practice

Through a competitive application process, five states – Iowa, Maryland, New York, Virginia and Washington – were chosen to take part in a community of practice aimed at exploring and innovating on strategies to improve postsecondary value. ESG is spearheading the EdValue Community of Practice to guide states through the complexities of defining and assessing the value of postsecondary education. The community’s primary objectives include:

• Building foundational knowledge around the full spectrum of postsecondary value concepts, with a particular focus on credentials of value and return on investment;
• Identifying and documenting unique state approaches to promoting postsecondary value; and
• Developing action plans that chart innovative strategies to enhance the value delivered by higher education systems.

This initiative builds on our strategy and measurement work in states like Colorado and Massachusetts, where we have partnered with state agencies and institutions to strengthen workforce alignment and improve how states define and measure postsecondary and employment outcomes. Our approach is informed by hands-on experience helping states design policies and measurement frameworks that ensure education and training pathways lead to economic mobility and high-value employment opportunities.

Focused Technical Assistance for Louisiana and Tennessee

In parallel, ESG is providing intensive support to Louisiana and Tennessee to refine, act, and expand on their existing definitions of value, including how to scale these definitions to associate and bachelor degree programs. This assistance is designed to:

• Benchmark and strategize against peer states and best practices;
• Rightsizing state agencies by developing support mechanisms, resources, and necessary infrastructure to empower postsecondary institutions in implementing statewide strategic vision related to improving value; and
• Implement actionable strategies that lead to policy enhancements and system improvements.

Both states are positioned to undertake transformative actions to support the adoption of current and future policies related to value, including developing and fostering buy-in through stakeholder feedback and building networks across agencies and institutions. 

Through these initiatives, ESG continues to lead the charge in ensuring higher education systems not only provide access but also deliver significant value to students and society. Our work with these states represents a bold step forward in shaping the future of higher education to meet the demands of the 21st century.