Austin Slaughter
@austinslaughter.bsky.social
Higher ed researcher at a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization focused on economic mobility. East Texan.
So, uh, the whole thing about nursing not making the professional degree cut seems to have broken through
November 23, 2025 at 3:39 AM
So, uh, the whole thing about nursing not making the professional degree cut seems to have broken through
Polymarket agrees
November 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Polymarket agrees
Good new brief estimating that 26% of federal loan borrowers will exceed the new loan limits, and they will do so by about $22,000 per year on average
www.american.edu/spa/peer/upl...
www.american.edu/spa/peer/upl...
October 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Good new brief estimating that 26% of federal loan borrowers will exceed the new loan limits, and they will do so by about $22,000 per year on average
www.american.edu/spa/peer/upl...
www.american.edu/spa/peer/upl...
I hate to (slightly) defend cosmetology programs--and I suspect most of them would fail the standard regardless of the methodology--BUT I feel compelled to point out over 90% of cosmetology students are women, and their earnings are being compared to the statewide median earnings of men and women
October 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I hate to (slightly) defend cosmetology programs--and I suspect most of them would fail the standard regardless of the methodology--BUT I feel compelled to point out over 90% of cosmetology students are women, and their earnings are being compared to the statewide median earnings of men and women
I'm pleasantly surprised to see rural institutions doing okay under the new standard despite the methodology using the statewide median earnings of high school graduates
October 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I'm pleasantly surprised to see rural institutions doing okay under the new standard despite the methodology using the statewide median earnings of high school graduates
This is a terrific paper looking at which programs are likely to fail the new earnings threshold established by the OBBA
www.american.edu/spa/peer/upl...
www.american.edu/spa/peer/upl...
October 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
This is a terrific paper looking at which programs are likely to fail the new earnings threshold established by the OBBA
www.american.edu/spa/peer/upl...
www.american.edu/spa/peer/upl...
This aligns exactly with ED's old "first professional degree" definition that was discontinued after 2010
September 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
This aligns exactly with ED's old "first professional degree" definition that was discontinued after 2010
80% of all adults agree state and federal governments should provide adequate funding to colleges for student support services
September 15, 2025 at 7:56 PM
80% of all adults agree state and federal governments should provide adequate funding to colleges for student support services
This paper estimates government losses on income-driven repayment plans are fully offset by increased tax revenue as a result of such plans boosting educational attainment
www.nber.org/system/files...
www.nber.org/system/files...
September 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This paper estimates government losses on income-driven repayment plans are fully offset by increased tax revenue as a result of such plans boosting educational attainment
www.nber.org/system/files...
www.nber.org/system/files...
This is not how science works
August 27, 2025 at 3:37 PM
This is not how science works
Not according to The Economist
August 26, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Not according to The Economist
I have a new brief out with @justinortagus.bsky.social about the prospect of using OBF to increase college completion rates
Honestly, it doesn't say much that will be new for audiences familiar with the topic, but here's one hot take that did not get cut from the brief
www.mdrc.org/work/publica...
Honestly, it doesn't say much that will be new for audiences familiar with the topic, but here's one hot take that did not get cut from the brief
www.mdrc.org/work/publica...
August 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I have a new brief out with @justinortagus.bsky.social about the prospect of using OBF to increase college completion rates
Honestly, it doesn't say much that will be new for audiences familiar with the topic, but here's one hot take that did not get cut from the brief
www.mdrc.org/work/publica...
Honestly, it doesn't say much that will be new for audiences familiar with the topic, but here's one hot take that did not get cut from the brief
www.mdrc.org/work/publica...
This is what the DOJ wants every college application essay to look like
July 31, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This is what the DOJ wants every college application essay to look like
This might be the most egregious Connections category ever
July 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
This might be the most egregious Connections category ever
Apparently I have a strong 2005-2015 bias
And a bit of a Texas bias
And a bit of a Texas bias
June 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Apparently I have a strong 2005-2015 bias
And a bit of a Texas bias
And a bit of a Texas bias
I was the median undergraduate student in this regard
June 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I was the median undergraduate student in this regard
Rewatching Lion King with my son and can't believe it got a G rating with this look Nala gives Simba
May 17, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Rewatching Lion King with my son and can't believe it got a G rating with this look Nala gives Simba
New findings on the impact of ASAP Ohio on labor market outcomes, extending the length of follow-up from six to eight years
After eight years, ASAP students earned 14% more than control group students, larger than the 12% difference observed after six years
www.mdrc.org/work/publica...
After eight years, ASAP students earned 14% more than control group students, larger than the 12% difference observed after six years
www.mdrc.org/work/publica...
April 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
New findings on the impact of ASAP Ohio on labor market outcomes, extending the length of follow-up from six to eight years
After eight years, ASAP students earned 14% more than control group students, larger than the 12% difference observed after six years
www.mdrc.org/work/publica...
After eight years, ASAP students earned 14% more than control group students, larger than the 12% difference observed after six years
www.mdrc.org/work/publica...
The attacks on higher education are not, in fact, popular, despite what you've been hearing from pundits
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
April 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The attacks on higher education are not, in fact, popular, despite what you've been hearing from pundits
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
New paper from the Consumer Finance Institute estimates a 1pp rise in unemployment during the Great Recession caused a 7% rise in outstanding debt and 6% rise in defaults, and the recession accounted for 19-32% of the increase in undergrad student debt
www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/FRBP...
www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/FRBP...
April 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
New paper from the Consumer Finance Institute estimates a 1pp rise in unemployment during the Great Recession caused a 7% rise in outstanding debt and 6% rise in defaults, and the recession accounted for 19-32% of the increase in undergrad student debt
www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/FRBP...
www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/FRBP...
Textbook economics
April 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Textbook economics
(3) Arisfeld et al. conducted a massive (10 million student) RCT estimating the effect of a communication campaign from FSA on FAFSA renewal and enrollment. The campaign caused a ~4% increase in FAFSA completion and ~1% increase in enrollment. The largest effects were on full-time enrolled students.
March 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
(3) Arisfeld et al. conducted a massive (10 million student) RCT estimating the effect of a communication campaign from FSA on FAFSA renewal and enrollment. The campaign caused a ~4% increase in FAFSA completion and ~1% increase in enrollment. The largest effects were on full-time enrolled students.
(2) Goldstein and Kolerman compare students' ideologies in their first and last weeks of college and find they become more likely to identify as liberal by ~7pp. There is variation by major in these shifts. Combined with gender variation by major, this explains 17% of the gender partisan gap.
March 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
(2) Goldstein and Kolerman compare students' ideologies in their first and last weeks of college and find they become more likely to identify as liberal by ~7pp. There is variation by major in these shifts. Combined with gender variation by major, this explains 17% of the gender partisan gap.