Policy

By 2031, nearly 75% of jobs in Massachusetts are projected to require education beyond high school, making college and career training essential for the Commonwealth’s economic future. Yet too many students—especially those from underserved communities—continue to face persistent barriers to enrollment, retention, and completion, limiting their opportunities to thrive in higher education and the workforce.

To address these challenges, the Collaborative for Higher Education Access & Opportunity (CHEAO)--released a new report, “Laying the Groundwork: Building a Policy Roadmap for Massachusetts Public Higher Education.”  Developed by leading researchers, policy advocates, and practitioners from EdTrust in Massachusetts, the Hildreth Institute, OneGoal, Latinos for Education, MassINC, and uAspire, the report outlines a strategic blueprint to expand access, improve student outcomes, and strengthen the state’s public higher education system.

The roadmap is anchored in four key pillars—Access & Affordability, Student Success & Completion, Degree Value, and Transparency & Accountability—that address equity and effectiveness in higher education. It highlights current challenges in each domain and offers initial policy recommendations to expand access for underserved students, improve graduation outcomes through holistic support, ensure degrees deliver real value, and strengthen data systems to guide resource allocation and decision-making.

Read the full report here