By Alessandra Cipriani-Detres, Senior Associate, Strategic Initiatives
Reading time: Five minutes
For many students and families, the question “Is college worth it?” has never felt more pressing. From concerns about mounting student debt to uncertainty about career outcomes, higher education’s return on investment (ROI) remains a central national
conversation. Recognizing this, Strada Education Foundation, a national organization dedicated to connecting education with opportunity, recently released its 2025 State Opportunity Index (SOI). This comprehensive tool is designed to help policymakers, higher education system leaders, and institutions strengthen the link between education and opportunity.
Drawing upon a mix of research, including student survey responses and self-reported responses from state education agency staff, the index measures states’ progress in improving employment outcomes for students and employers. It assesses states across
five research-backed keys: Clear Outcomes, Quality Coaching, Affordability, Work-Based Learning, and Employer Alignment.
Understanding the Five Keys
States are categorized into four progress levels ranging from “leading” to “foundational” based on their advancement in each of the five keys.
Clear Outcomes: Anyone considering a postsecondary program deserves a clear understanding of where it may lead, including the kinds of jobs graduates secure and what those jobs pay.
Quality Coaching: When learners receive timely labor market information, personalized guidance, and support in overcoming obstacles, they are more likely to secure a college-level job and feel satisfied with their early career progress.
Read more about the Quality Coaching key here.
Affordability: Cost remains one of the greatest barriers to achieving a positive return on investment.
Work-Based Learning: Quality, work-based learning experiences are instrumental in improving employment outcomes. Paid work-based learning experiences are particularly associated with higher post-completion earnings and increased probability
of securing a college-level job.
Employer Alignment: For postsecondary education to consistently deliver economic opportunity, learners must have access to programs that prepare them to secure high-wage, high-demand jobs. Employers also need reliable pipelines of
qualified graduates.
National Findings
Strada’s national findings provide a revealing snapshot of how students experience the connection between education and opportunity.
Around 70% of students receive support setting goals and overcoming obstacles, but only about 20-30% are advised on labor market opportunities. In a world where the ROI for college is questioned, advising about goals and overcoming challenges is not enough.
This research shows there is a clear opportunity to incorporate discussions about wages, labor demand, and employment statistics in college advising.
Every state except Florida is ranked below “leading” in affordability for four-year institutions. This calculation accounts for the number of hours an average student and a student from the lowest income group would need to work to cover the annual cost
of a public higher education institution, as well as the percentage of students completing their degree on time.
On-time degree completion remains a widespread challenge. Only 13 states see a majority of students attending four-year institutions complete their degrees on time. The time it takes students to graduate contributes significantly to the cost of a college
degree, and there is clear room for improvement in getting students in and out the door in a timely manner.
How You Can Put the State Opportunity Index to Use
For those shaping state policy and programs, the SOI's state profiles offer in-depth, evidence-based summaries about where states are excelling and where they have growth opportunities when it comes to benefiting both students and the state’s economy
and workforce. Each state profile summarizes progress in the five key areas for improving success beyond completion, in addition to the percentage of students who experience a positive ROI from college.
Beyond assessing where your state stands, the Index also helps identify high-performing, “leading” states to learn from. Reviewing these state profiles can illuminate effective policy strategies and program models that may be adaptable to your community.
The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) is happy to connect members to peers or partners in other states, whether it be through our general membership or our Postsecondary Pathways State Partners network, which includes over 25 state agencies
and state college access organizations. If you’d like to connect with a state and learn more, reach out to Alessandra Cipriani-Detres (alessandra@ncan.org) or Bill DeBaun (debaunb@ncan.org).
The only state ranked “leading” in affordability, Florida offers the lowest tuition in the country for in-state undergraduate students. In fact, Florida students can complete a college degree for about half the cost of the national average tuition and
fees. Aside from low costs, Florida also accelerates the time to degree completion through robust and free dual enrollment opportunities for students. Additionally, when students transfer credits from two-year to four-year institutions, whether they
be dual enrollment credits or traditional community college credits, the state’s streamlined 2+2 transfer articulation agreements minimize the number of credits that are lost.
Mississippi’s workforce development agency, AccelerateMS, leads a career coaching program to help middle and high school students explore education and career paths, identify high-wage and high-demand jobs, and
connect them with local employers. The statewide program serves the unique needs of various regions in the state, and coaches are employed by regional community organizations rather than schools. Therefore, the responsibilities of coaches do not compete
with those of school counselors. Mississippi’s state-level program is an excellent example of the quality coaching students deserve.
A leader in Strada’s employer alignment key, KYStats is a data system that tracks numerous education to employment outcomes and helps policymakers and educators align training programs with industry demands. In conjunction,
Talent Pipeline Management prepares the workforce by ensuring employers define their talent needs and work with educators to meet those needs. Through strong statewide collaborative efforts, Kentucky is bridging the gap between education and employment.
The 2025 SOI is more than a tool, it is a call to action. As students and families increasingly weigh the costs and benefits of college, states have a responsibility and critical opportunity to ensure every student has access to postsecondary education
opportunities that boast a positive return on investment. By prioritizing affordability, transparency, and stronger connections between college and the workforce, states can ensure that every learner has access to an education that truly pays off
in both opportunity and outcomes.
Email to a Friend