August 12, 2025
In an effort to enhance transparency and provide valuable insights into student success, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) is introducing innovative tools aimed at the public. These tools are designed to offer a clearer picture of student outcomes across various institutions.
Among the new offerings are interactive dashboards that present a variety of student achievement metrics, alongside a groundbreaking return on investment (ROI) metric. Similar to the approach taken by other accrediting bodies, ACCJC will utilize the price-to-earnings premium to assess ROI. This metric, developed with contributions from organizations like Third Way and the College Futures Foundation, evaluates the time it takes for graduates to recoup their educational expenses based on their earnings.
In a recent white paper, the accreditor emphasized that the earnings premium serves as an accessible and relatable method for students and their families to understand the financial benefits of education. It also provides a framework for institutions, evaluators, and policymakers to set measurable goals and foster improvements in educational quality.
Kathleen Burke, chair of ACCJC, highlighted in a press release that a significant insight from the development of these resources is the expectation from federal policymakers for institutions to clearly demonstrate their value to students.
“These initiatives by ACCJC are instrumental in helping policymakers and the public recognize the substantial value that member institutions provide,” Burke stated.
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