Video: America's Worst Colleges

One of the best ways to boost the number of college graduates in America is to steer prospective students away from “dropout factories”—that is, colleges with low graduation rates and high prices, debt levels and student default rates. The college “rating system” the Obama administration plans to unveil this fall promises to do just that. But the obstacles—including pushback from higher ed lobbies and GOP lawmakers—are substantial. And in an era when new college graduates are struggling to start their careers, it’s equally important to reform the dysfunctional (or nonexistent) systems that link colleges to employers.

Washington Monthly and New America today hosted a panel discussion on these issues, which are featured in the magazine’s 2014 College Guide and Rankings. Watch the discussion above.

You can still join the conversation online using #WaMoRankings and following @NewAmerica and @WashMonthly.

Opening Remarks:

Jamie P. Merisotis
President and CEO, Lumina Foundation

Participants:

Amy Binder
Professor of Sociology, University of California, San Diego

Kevin Carey
Director, Education Policy Program, New America Foundation

Ben Miller
Senior policy analyst, New America Foundation's Education Policy Program.

Laura Colarusso
Freelance writer, co-author (with Jon Marcus) of “Who’s Afraid of College Rankings?” in Sept/Oct. 2014 issue of the Washington Monthly

Moderator:

Paul Glastris
Editor in Chief, Washington Monthly