Preston Cooper
@prestoncooper93.bsky.social
Higher ed, student loans, college ROI. AEI senior fellow. Forbes contributor. Hiker, diver, dog appreciator. Usual disclaimers. Mostly on Twitter: https://x.com/PrestonCooper93 Newsletter: https://prestoncooper93.substack.com/
Congress is on the verge of eliminating Grad PLUS—the program which extends effectively unlimited taxpayer-funded loans to graduate students—and imposing caps on graduate loans for the first time since 2006. The demise of Grad PLUS is welcome. My analysis at AEI: www.aei.org/education/co...
July 3, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Congress is on the verge of eliminating Grad PLUS—the program which extends effectively unlimited taxpayer-funded loans to graduate students—and imposing caps on graduate loans for the first time since 2006. The demise of Grad PLUS is welcome. My analysis at AEI: www.aei.org/education/co...
My analysis of which colleges would benefit the most from the accountability provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act--and which would face the stiffest penalties. www.aei.org/education/ho...
June 9, 2025 at 11:06 AM
My analysis of which colleges would benefit the most from the accountability provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act--and which would face the stiffest penalties. www.aei.org/education/ho...
Overregulation has made it hard to start new colleges —and the consequences for students are fewer opportunities and rising prices.
Over at RealClearEducation, I argue that Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson should add higher education to the "Abundance" agenda. www.realcleareducation.com/articles/202...
Over at RealClearEducation, I argue that Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson should add higher education to the "Abundance" agenda. www.realcleareducation.com/articles/202...
May 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Overregulation has made it hard to start new colleges —and the consequences for students are fewer opportunities and rising prices.
Over at RealClearEducation, I argue that Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson should add higher education to the "Abundance" agenda. www.realcleareducation.com/articles/202...
Over at RealClearEducation, I argue that Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson should add higher education to the "Abundance" agenda. www.realcleareducation.com/articles/202...
Just 12m of 35m student borrowers not enrolled in school are paying their loans on time.
This could push some colleges above the 30% default rate threshold that would--if sustained--cause them to lose access federal aid.
Colleges have a responsibility to help return student borrowers to repayment.
This could push some colleges above the 30% default rate threshold that would--if sustained--cause them to lose access federal aid.
Colleges have a responsibility to help return student borrowers to repayment.
May 8, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Just 12m of 35m student borrowers not enrolled in school are paying their loans on time.
This could push some colleges above the 30% default rate threshold that would--if sustained--cause them to lose access federal aid.
Colleges have a responsibility to help return student borrowers to repayment.
This could push some colleges above the 30% default rate threshold that would--if sustained--cause them to lose access federal aid.
Colleges have a responsibility to help return student borrowers to repayment.
House Republicans have proposed a new student loan repayment plan that would - for borrowers who keep up with their payments - prevent balances from rising over time.
Here's how it works: www.aei.org/education/ho...
Here's how it works: www.aei.org/education/ho...
April 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
House Republicans have proposed a new student loan repayment plan that would - for borrowers who keep up with their payments - prevent balances from rising over time.
Here's how it works: www.aei.org/education/ho...
Here's how it works: www.aei.org/education/ho...
What actions could Secretary McMahon take *right now* to raise awareness among student loan borrowers that payments are due again? I explore two options over at the AEI blog. www.aei.org/education/ho...
April 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM
What actions could Secretary McMahon take *right now* to raise awareness among student loan borrowers that payments are due again? I explore two options over at the AEI blog. www.aei.org/education/ho...
In February 2020, the last month before the student loan payment pause began, 60 percent of borrowers (serviced by Nelnet) were repaying their loans on time.
Last month, the current repayment rate was just 38 percent.
New data in my latest post for AEI: www.aei.org/education/le...
Last month, the current repayment rate was just 38 percent.
New data in my latest post for AEI: www.aei.org/education/le...
March 26, 2025 at 1:41 PM
In February 2020, the last month before the student loan payment pause began, 60 percent of borrowers (serviced by Nelnet) were repaying their loans on time.
Last month, the current repayment rate was just 38 percent.
New data in my latest post for AEI: www.aei.org/education/le...
Last month, the current repayment rate was just 38 percent.
New data in my latest post for AEI: www.aei.org/education/le...
Student loan payments have resumed after a five-year pause. But the return to repayment is going badly. Congress and the Trump administration need to fix it, I argue in @thehill.com thehill.com/opinion/educ...
March 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Student loan payments have resumed after a five-year pause. But the return to repayment is going badly. Congress and the Trump administration need to fix it, I argue in @thehill.com thehill.com/opinion/educ...
Appreciate Adam Wittenberg quoting me in this good piece about rising student loan delinquencies. readlion.com/student-loan...
March 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Appreciate Adam Wittenberg quoting me in this good piece about rising student loan delinquencies. readlion.com/student-loan...
Thanks for these thoughtful comments! I was able to break out the data for low-income students here.
March 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Thanks for these thoughtful comments! I was able to break out the data for low-income students here.
I have a new report for AEI looking at changes in college tuition between 1990 and 2020. While net tuition paid by students rose around $4,500 in real terms, net tuition received by institutions rose $8,100. The wedge is due to rising external financial aid. www.aei.org/research-pro...
March 14, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I have a new report for AEI looking at changes in college tuition between 1990 and 2020. While net tuition paid by students rose around $4,500 in real terms, net tuition received by institutions rose $8,100. The wedge is due to rising external financial aid. www.aei.org/research-pro...
There are 35 million federal student loan borrowers not enrolled in school. As of September 2024, just 13 million were making on-time payments on their loans.
My latest post on the data behind the return to repayment: www.aei.org/education/th...
My latest post on the data behind the return to repayment: www.aei.org/education/th...
March 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
There are 35 million federal student loan borrowers not enrolled in school. As of September 2024, just 13 million were making on-time payments on their loans.
My latest post on the data behind the return to repayment: www.aei.org/education/th...
My latest post on the data behind the return to repayment: www.aei.org/education/th...
Super excited to join this panel next Tuesday at SXSW EDU in Austin!
Join us if you can.
Details: schedule.sxswedu.com/2025/events/...
Join us if you can.
Details: schedule.sxswedu.com/2025/events/...
February 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Super excited to join this panel next Tuesday at SXSW EDU in Austin!
Join us if you can.
Details: schedule.sxswedu.com/2025/events/...
Join us if you can.
Details: schedule.sxswedu.com/2025/events/...
We have an injunction from the 8th Circuit blocking the SAVE plan, as expected.
But the order also says that *all loan forgiveness* on income-driven repayment plans using the same statutory authority is illegal. The implications here are potentially big.
New from me: www.forbes.com/sites/presto...
But the order also says that *all loan forgiveness* on income-driven repayment plans using the same statutory authority is illegal. The implications here are potentially big.
New from me: www.forbes.com/sites/presto...
February 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
We have an injunction from the 8th Circuit blocking the SAVE plan, as expected.
But the order also says that *all loan forgiveness* on income-driven repayment plans using the same statutory authority is illegal. The implications here are potentially big.
New from me: www.forbes.com/sites/presto...
But the order also says that *all loan forgiveness* on income-driven repayment plans using the same statutory authority is illegal. The implications here are potentially big.
New from me: www.forbes.com/sites/presto...
February newsletter is out! This month I look at how state governments contribute to degree inflation (and what they can do about that).
Also: How Trump can fix the student loan program, and college enrollment trends to watch.
Read it here: prestoncooper93.substack.com/p/how-states...
Also: How Trump can fix the student loan program, and college enrollment trends to watch.
Read it here: prestoncooper93.substack.com/p/how-states...
February 19, 2025 at 1:50 PM
February newsletter is out! This month I look at how state governments contribute to degree inflation (and what they can do about that).
Also: How Trump can fix the student loan program, and college enrollment trends to watch.
Read it here: prestoncooper93.substack.com/p/how-states...
Also: How Trump can fix the student loan program, and college enrollment trends to watch.
Read it here: prestoncooper93.substack.com/p/how-states...
I'm testifying for the House Education & Workforce Committee tomorrow at 10:15 on the state of American higher education. Tune in here: www.youtube.com/live/TB4nIgm...
February 4, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I'm testifying for the House Education & Workforce Committee tomorrow at 10:15 on the state of American higher education. Tune in here: www.youtube.com/live/TB4nIgm...
My former FREOPP colleague, Annie Bowers, has published an excellent new paper on outcomes-based funding for higher education, and how to get it right.
freopp.org/whitepapers/...
freopp.org/whitepapers/...
January 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
My former FREOPP colleague, Annie Bowers, has published an excellent new paper on outcomes-based funding for higher education, and how to get it right.
freopp.org/whitepapers/...
freopp.org/whitepapers/...
I've been in Southeast Asia for the past three weeks. What did I miss?
January 2, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I've been in Southeast Asia for the past three weeks. What did I miss?
Employers and state governments have dropped degree requirements from jobs where they're not necessary. But so far we're not seeing the fruits of their efforts in the data--degree inflation continues apace. My latest in Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/presto...
December 6, 2024 at 11:59 AM
Employers and state governments have dropped degree requirements from jobs where they're not necessary. But so far we're not seeing the fruits of their efforts in the data--degree inflation continues apace. My latest in Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/presto...
I'm quoted in Business Insider on what might happen with loan cancellation under Trump. www.businessinsider.com/save-plan-ch...
December 2, 2024 at 1:45 PM
I'm quoted in Business Insider on what might happen with loan cancellation under Trump. www.businessinsider.com/save-plan-ch...
Federal loans to graduate students will cost taxpayers $130 billion over the next decade.
There's evidence federal loans increase tuition and subsidize low-quality master's programs.
My new issue brief for Ed Counsel argues we should end them.
www.aei.org/research-pro...
There's evidence federal loans increase tuition and subsidize low-quality master's programs.
My new issue brief for Ed Counsel argues we should end them.
www.aei.org/research-pro...
November 21, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Federal loans to graduate students will cost taxpayers $130 billion over the next decade.
There's evidence federal loans increase tuition and subsidize low-quality master's programs.
My new issue brief for Ed Counsel argues we should end them.
www.aei.org/research-pro...
There's evidence federal loans increase tuition and subsidize low-quality master's programs.
My new issue brief for Ed Counsel argues we should end them.
www.aei.org/research-pro...